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THE 



TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEEU; 



OR, 



JOURNAL OF A PRIVATE, 



TENNESSEE REGIMENT OF CAVALRY, 

IN THE CAMPAIGN, IN MEXICO, 

1846-7; 

COMPRISING FOUR GENERAL SUBJECTS " 

L A SOLDIER'S LIFE IN CAMP; AMUSEMENTS; DUTIES; HARDSHIPS 
n. A DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS AND MEXICO, AS SEEN ON THE MARCH 

III. MANNERS; CUSTOMS; RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES OF THE MEXICANS 

IV. THE OPERATIONS OF ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEERS 

INCLUDING A COMPLETE 

HISTORY OF THE WAE WITH MEXICO. 

EMBELLISHED WITH 

CORRECT ENGRAVINGS, PROM DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR. 



BY GEORGE C. FURBER, 

OP COMPANT G. 



CINCINNATI: 
J. A. & U. P. JAMES, WALNUT ST. 

- 1848. 



Entebed, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by 

GEORGE C. FURBER, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Ohio. 



( JAMES & CO., 

> J. A. t c. p. 



Stereotypers, CiacJauti. 
JAMES' Steam Prea. 



TO THE 



OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS 



TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEERS, 



THIS WORK 



IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



PREFACE. 



To Major General Patterson and Colonel Abercrombie, his aid, theauthor 
gratefully acknowledges his obligations, for the information given him of 
the army movements from time to time, and more especially for the revisal 
of his journals during the stay of the army at Jalapa, — thus enabling him, 
with confidence, to present therp to the public. To Colonel Thomas, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Allison, Major Waterhouse, and Captain Sneed, of the Ten- 
nessee cavalry, he takes pleasure in declaring his indebtedness, for the con- 
tinued opportunities and indulgence granted, in allowing him time and leave 
of absence from the regular duties of camp, while near the Mexican cities and 
towns, in order to procure the information herein contained. To the gen- 
tlemanly adjutants of the 1st and 2d Tennessee, and 3d Ohio regiments, he 
is indebted for much information, more particularly in their power to give. 
To most of the officers in his own regiment, and many of those in the lat 
and 2d Tennessee, he returns his thanks, for the relation of many items 
and facts which came under their more immediate observation ; and for their 
strong interest manifested, while yet on the scene of operations, for the char- 
acter and success of this work. 

To Dr. Woodworth, now of Cincinnati, but resident in the interior of 
Mexico for the past eight years, the author is much indebted, for the complete 
revisal and approval of his proof-sheets, as they came from the press, in 
all things relating to Mexican manners, customs, laws, and religious cere- 
monies, — thus, in these respects, enabling him to present them to the pub- 
lic, fully confident that nothing therein will convey the slightest impression 
of anytliing save facts, as they exist. — In giving these accounts, he ac- 
knowledges the assistance of no work whatever on Mexico or Mexicans; 
being entirely original, and he not willing to endorse the errors or care- 
lessness of others. 

To his numerous fellow-soldiers, who, at Victoria, Mex., Tampico, Vera 
Cruz, Plan del Rio and Jalapa, subscribed to the work, upon hearing the 
details of the manuscripts and examining the drawings of places, — on the 
jiromise, too, on his part, that it should be issued from the press by the 1st 
■of November, 1847, — the author owes an apology, for his failure to produce 



yJ preface. 

itin that specified time ; and he trusts that they ■will receive his excuse, as- 
he found it wholly impossible to finish the book and engravings within that 
period, and as they will see that he has furnished a larger and more com- 
plete work than that contracted for, but with no increase of price. 

A description of the country ; the transactions in camp and on the march ; 
the battles fought by the immediate division to which the Tennessee cavalry 
was attached ; the manners and customs of the Mexicans, &c., was prom- 
ised; but he has taken a wider range, and worked in with those an account 
of all the actions of the twelve months' volunteers, and a complete history 
of the war. — Five hundred and fifty pages was the proposed extent ; he 
has given six hundred and twenty-four ; — six engravings were to be in the 
work ; he has placed in twenty-three, and added a map of the whole scene 
of operations. He trusts, on these accounts, that his failure in time in 
issuing the book, will be passed over. 

To the general reader, the author would remark, that in this work there has 
not been the slightest opportunity, even had he been so disposed, for the flight 
of imagination, or any departure from truth : for thousands witnessed the 
scenes here described. The errors would have been instantly detected by 
them ; and especially condemned by those whose aid and support has been 
freely given to the work only on account of its faithful details, whether of 
important operations, or of lighter scenes in camp. 

The author has aimed at no excellence of style; he has endeavored 
to use the more familiar words and every day expressions of life, conscious 
that the relation of facts would be the main object with the reader, rather 
than the language in which they might be dressed. 

In the list of killed and wounded there may be errors in the letters of 
the names; — probably there are such: as it is next to impossible for so 
many proper names to be all correctly spelled ; — there may also be some 
omissions. In either case, the author would be happy to receive communi- 
cations from the friends of the fallen, or from the wounded themselves, ad- 
dressed to him, care of the publishers, post-paid, and such errors shall be 
corrected in the next edition; — or if he has inadvertently neglected, in any 
particular, to do full and even justice to any regiment, command, or officer, 
he would be thankful for communications, in like manner, upon the subject: 
for this, too, may be the case, especially in the operations of other divisions 
of the army than that to which he was attached, notwithstanding his un- 
wearied endeavors, to procure all published information and personal 
accounts from individuals who bore distinguished parts in those scenes, and 
the full confidence which, consequently, he feels in their correctness. 

Cincinnati, January, 1848. 



CONTENTS. 



Causes and Commencement of the War— Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma— Bombardment of Fort Brown— War Bill— Call for Volunteers— List 
of the Regiment of Twelve Months Volunteers from page 13 to 44 

CHAPTER I. 

The Twelve Months' Volunteer— Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry— March to 
Little Rock— Drumming out of Camp— Little Rock— Encampment at Sabine 

River Magnet Cove— Camp at Caddo River — Soldiers Cooking — Squatter 

Girl— Camp at Little Missouri— Washington, Ark.— Fulton— Line of Texas 

Sulphur Fork — Alligators — Sickness in Camp — The Philosopher — Upshur 

county fromp.i^io 

CHAPTER II. 

Branton's — " The Rainy Day "-Crockett — Old Bell— Petrified Timber — Rob- 
bins' Ferry, Trinity River — Beautiful Prairie— Grimes County — Landscapes 

Washington, Texas — Soldier's Burial — Riding a Rail — Independence — 

Brave Boy — Picturesque Basin — Alligators fromp.67to 



66 



94 



CHAPTER III. 

Operations of Gen. Taylor — March of the Army — Situation of the City of Mon- 
terey — Attack on Monterey — Storming of Fort Tannerio — Charge of Lancers 
upon 1st Ohio Regiment — Worth's Movements on ^st September — Bragg's 
Artillery — Worth's Attack on 22d — Quitman's Operations on 23d September 

Worth's Operations on do. — Ampudia's Proposal— Cessation of Hostilities 

— Capitulation of Monterey — List of Killed and Wounded of 1st Tennessee, 
1st Mississippi, 1st Ohio, and 1st Kentucky Regiments, Baltimore Battalion, 
Texas Rangers, and Louisianians from p. 95 to 119 

CHAPTER IV. 

Return to the Tennessee Regiment Cavalry, on the March at La Grange, Texas 
— Fine Natural Scenery — Singular Water Holes — Report of Sickness ahead 
— Mexican Gourds — Chase on the Prairie — Lands on the Guadaloupe — David 
Crockett's Rifle " Betsy " — Rough Houses — Hog-wallow Prairie— Comanche 

( vii ) 



VIU TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Depredations — Victoria, Texas — Camp Placedor — Port Lavacca — Emigrants 
— Feigning Sickness — Tarantulas — Centipedes — Scorpions — Express from 
Gen. Taylor — Col. Fannin's Entrenchments — San Antonio River — Ruins of 
Goliad — Massacre of Fannin's Command — Santa Anna's Duplicity — Hunter's 
Escape — Soldier on Guard — Effect of Liquor — Prickly Pear — Neuces River — 
Corpus Christi — Gen. Taylor's old camp — Musquit Trees — Chapparal — Alarm 
of Enemy ahead — "Battle of the Mustangs" — Signs of Indians — Scattering 
Comanches — Mexican Traders — Wild Horses: Capture of one — Wolves — 
Human Skeletons — Lost Hunters — Salt Marshes — Want of Water — Briny 
Lake — Charge on Whisky Barrels — Sal Colorado — Arrival on the Rio 
Grande frump. 120 /o 187 

CHAPTER V. 

Buildings of Matamoras — Gardens — Dress of Mexicans — Appearance on Horse- 
back — Fort Brown — Women of Matamoras — Horsemanship — Copper Balls 
— Skeletons on Battle-Fields — Camp Ringgold — Agua Dulce Lake — Mexican 
Servants in Camp — Ranchos — Cultivated Fields — Canales' Men — Ranchos 
and Haciendas — System of Peonage or Servitude from p. 188 to 212 

CHAPTER VI. 

Parade on Plaza — Scene at Pay-table — Scene at Alcalde's Court — Mexican 
Plows and Carts— Mexican Priest — Funeral Processions — City Prison — 
Stores in the City — Breaking a Wild Horse — Skill with the Lasso — Dress 
Parade — Arrival of Gen. Patterson — Gambling Scenes in Camp — Reports of 
Contemplated Attacks — Vigilance of the Regiments — Picket Guards — Mexi- 
can Fandango — Officers caught without the Countersign — The Sentinel on 
Picket — False Alarm — Review of Gen. Patterson's Division .from p. 213 to 241 

CHAPTER VII. 

Central Army, under Gen. Wool — List of his Corps — Movements of his Army 
— Northern Army, under Gen. Kearney — Capture of Santa Fe — Departure 
for California — March of 1st Missouri Cavalry, Col. Doniphan — Expedition 
against the Navajos — Scenes at Council with the Navajos — Dress of the 
Chiefs and Warriors — Dress of the Navajo Women — Conclusion of the 
Council — Col. Doniphan's March — Scenes on Christmas-Da}' — Battle of Bra- 
zito — Capture of El Paso — Recapitulation of Army Movements — Cporalions 
of the Navy — Gulf Squadron, Commodore Conner — Pacific Squadron, Com- 
modore Sloat — Expedition against San Diego — Gen. Kearney's Arrival in t'ali- 
fornia — Change in Mexican Government — Santa Anna's Return to Mexico — 
Positions of American and Mexican Armies, at the close of iS^Q. from p. 242 iu 274 

CHAPTER VIII. 
March of Gen. Patterson's Division — Excitement in Matamoras — Want of Water 
— Christmas-Day and Dinner — The " Long Day's March'' — Contentioti for 
Water, at Night — Valley of San Fernando — Cemetery, or Campo Santo — 
Hypocrisy of Alcaldes — Meeting of Alcaldes — Method of Justice before them 
— Mexican Officers of Justice — Manner of Riding Double — Rough Scenery 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX 

Page. 

Cactus Gigantea — Other Cacti — Removing Obstacles on the March — 

Changes of Scenery — Beautiful Valley — Appetite of the Soldiers for Coffee — 
Extensive Plains — Ancient Dam — Old Palace at Santander — The New Year 

Excellent Well at Rancho — Mexican Bridges, Aqueducts, and Wells — 

Crossing the San Antonio River — Padilla River — Town of Padilla — Sketch 
of the Life of the Emperor Iturhide — Spirituous Liquor, Muscal — Barren 
Hills — Rio Corona — Capilla, Church at Hacienda — Priests at a Capilla — Cere- 
mony of "Nuestra Senor Esta Patcnte" — Arrival at Victoria — Scenes in City 
of Victoria — Houses of Peones — Mountains — Personal Appearance of Gen. 
Taylor — Swapping Horses with Generals — Gen. Twiggs' Personal Appearance 
— Sudden Norther — Mass at Parochia — Burial of " Angels'' — Rifa de Almas 
— Reoppiion of Letters — March of Capt. Haynes's Detachment — Dispatches 
from Gen. Scott — Consequent Movements — " El Nacimienlo," from p. 275 to 341 

CHAPTER IX. 

March of Generals Patterson, Twiggs, Pillow, and Quitman — Camp at Rio de 
Floris — Mishap to Gen. Patterson — Search for a Bottle of Brandy — Parties of 
Lancers — Mesas or Table-Lands — Sports of the Infantry — Crosses over the 
Murdered — RioFoIlon — La PalmaBendita^ — Different Plants and Trees — Gua- 
nos — Hacienda of Alomiler — Extent of Hacienda — Slight Attack by Lancers 
— Hacienda of Chocoi — Don Ramon Prieto — Old Spanish Carriage — Moun- 
tain of Bernal — Lechugas — Atajcs, Arrieros, and Cuslom-House Officers in 
Mexico — Lake Carpentero — Dignity of Officers — Impudence of a Private — 
Rancho — The Mustang Cavalry — Town of Altamira — Agave Americana, or 
Maguey — La Encarnacion — Company G sent on Scout — Beauty of Country 
South of the Panuco — Banana Plants — Ancient Mexican Idol — March into 
Tampico — Extensive Prospects — Encampment at Tampico — Monopoly of To- 
bacco by Mexican Government from p. 342 io 393 

CHAPTER X. 

City of Tampico — Fort Andonega — Piaza de Comercia — Signs over the Stores 
— Puros and Cigarros — Mexican Liquors, and Method of Distillation — Polite- 
ness of Mexicans — Markets of Tampico — Lanchas — Sea Turtles — Style of 
Building — Streets — Senoritas — Aguadores — Plaza de Armas — Hospital — Pan- 
daderia — Rosea de los Muertos, or Loaves for the Dead — Parades and Drills 
— Camp Scenes — Liquor, in Camp — Scenes in the Tents — Absence of Care 
with Soldiers — The Wrecked Louisianians — Sickness — The Philosopher and 
his Horse, Rosinante — Beef for Gen. Cos — Criminal Court of Tampico — 
Search of the new Sheriff for " Locks " — " Locks " and " Cogle " — Mexican 
Taxes — Tomales Calientes — Regular Soldiers — Arrival of Gen. Scott — Troops 
Embark for Vera Cruz — Mexican Ceremonies of Marriage . . from p. 394 to 436 

CHAPTER XI. 

Operations elsewhere during the Winter — Gen. Kearney's Battles — Insurrection 
in California — Insurrection in New Mexico — Battle of Canada — Battle of 
El Emboda— Battle of Puebla de Taos — Killed and Wounded — Col, Doni- 
phan's Movements — Intercepted Letters — Doniphan's March for Chihuahua— 



X TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Passage of Jornada — Battle of Sacraincnto^Loss of the Enemy — Cliihuahua 
taken — Treaty of Chihuahua — G«n. Taylor's 0|wrations — Surprise and Cap- 
ture of Detachment of Kentucky and Arkansas Cavalry at Encarnacion — 
Battle of Buena Vista — Disposition of Troops on first day o( Battle — Sum- 
mons of Santa Anna — Taylor's IJeply — Battle of Feb. '«2J — Hopulse of Am- 
pudia's Column — Attack by Gen. Pachocii — Kotreat of 'Zd Indiana I\cy;imont 
— Plain Statement of Causes, and Defence ol' the same — Resistance of (>en. 
Pacheco's Attack — Conduct of 2d Illinois Kegiment — Action of the Missis- 
sippi Regiment — Attack on the Hacienda — Conduct of Kentucky and Ark- 
ansas Cavalry — Repulse of Gen. Pacheco-^RepuIse of Gen. Minon's Lan- 
cers — Pinal and Concentrated Attack of the whole Mexican Army, under Gen. 
Perez. — The gallant Repulse — Conduct of »d Kentucky Regiment — 0( :id In- 
diana Regiment — Of 1st Illinois Regiment — Result of the Battle — Killed and 
Wounded of Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Texas Troops, and 
Rcgulars-^Retrcat of Santa Anna — Capture of Train by Urrca and Canalos 
.— Urrea's Attack on 2d Ohio Regiment, Lieut. Col. Irvin — His Attack on the 
same Regitiient, Col. Morgan — Attack on Major Giddings' Command — .\p- 
proach of 3d Oliio, Col. Curtis — Retreat of Gen. Urrca . . . from p. i27 to i90 

CHAPTER XII. 

Return to Gen. Scott's Army — Embarkation of Tennessee Cavalry — Scenes on 
board the Shiji — Sea Sickness — Getting " Under Weigh " — Amusements at 
Sea — Flying Fish — Sharks, Porpoises, &c. — Gale — Sight of Land — Renewal 
of Stonn — Sight of Vera Cruz — Anchorage at Sacrifkios Island — Heavy Can- 
nonading from Castle — Visit from Harbor master — Wrecks during Norther- 
Grand Scenes — Landing of the Regiment — Apj>earancc of the Beach — Sum- 
mons from Gen. Scott to Gen. Morales to Surrender the City — Reply of (Jen. 
Morales — (\uinon — Mortars — Shells — Sand Hills — Opening of Bombard- 
ment — Scenes by Night — " Musquito Fleet" — Camp at Malibran — Slackening 
Fire of Batteries — City on Fire after Night — Naval Battery — Mexican Forts — 
Force of Shells — Their Elleet — Ruins of Malibran — Dcid from Batteries — 
Grand Scene at Night — Petition of Foreign Consuls--Answerof Gen. Scott — 
Increased Vigor of the Bombardment — Battle of "Madeline Bridge" — Ofler 
of Surrender — Meeting of Commissioners — Cemetery — Scenes within — Scenes 
in Batteries — Scene of Surrender of the City of \"era Cruz — Killed and 
Wounded — Desolated Appearance of the city — Expedition against Alvarado — 
City of Vera Cruz — Castle of San .luan de UUoa from p. 'l^J\ to 570 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Energetic Movements of Santa Anna — His vast Estate — His Haciendas — Na- 
tional Bridge — His position at Cerro Gordo — March of tho American Army 
from Vera Cruz — Battle-ground of Cerro Gordo — Gen. Twiggs' Movements 
— His action on 1 7th April — Movement of Gen. Shields' Brigade — Disposi- 
tion of Mexican Troops and Artillery — (Jen. Scott's Orders for Battle — Col. 
Harney's Attack — Col. Riley s do. — Gen. Shields' do. — Gen. Pillow's do. — 
Charge of 2d Tennessee Regiment — Killed and Wounded of 1st and 2d Ten- 
nessee, 1st and 2d Pennsylvania, 3d and 4lh Illinois, and New York Rcgi- 



TAHLE OF CONTKNTR. Xl 

miMits, Kentucky (/omimny and RoRuIars — Fruits of Victory — Surrender of 
Jalnpii, I*("rotc, and Puclila — IJcinarkK on Iho Mattle — A|>|icarance of (Jround 
nflcr the IJattltr — Hlowing up Magazines, hurninf^ Arms, spiking Cannon, 
&,c. — March towards .lalapa — Hacienda of Knccrro — Ueauty of (,'ountry — 
Mountain ofOri/.alia — Scenes in Julapa — Marki!t place — Variety of (ylitnate — 
Ahundance of Fruits — Beauty of I<adios — Procession of the Host — Mexican 
Schools — Festival of Corpus Christ), or "Holy Week" — Property of the 
Government — T'uMio Wnshinp-places — Fountains — Order for discharge of 
Twelve Months Volunteers — Commencement of Heturii March — Arrival at 
New Orleans — Ucginicnts dishandcul from p.-^l\ to 014 

APPENDIX. 

General Scott's Official Account of the Hattles of ('ontrcras, Churubuseo, and 
('hapullci)cc, and of the subsequent actions, which resulted in the Capture of 
the ('ity of Mexico from p. GlU to G24 



LIST OF ENGRAVINGS AND LITHOGRAPHS. 

1. Canal in Castle of St. Juan do Ulloa h\onthplrct. 

2. Hills of (?erro (lordo and 'J'elegrafo " 

.'}. Camp Ivinggold ; 'J'etmeSHce Kegimciit of Cavalry Opposiu page. \\ 

A. Plan of Monterey «' " 100 

5. View of the Uuins of (joliad ; Scene of Fannin's Massacre . . " " l^O 

C. Plan of Matamoras «« " 192 

7. Victoria, Cam[) of (Jencral Patterson's Division " " 318 

8. Cactus Gigantea, La Palma Bendita, Sword Palmetto, &c. . . " " 356 

9. Mount ]}ernal, Mexican Atajo, &c " " 3G8 

10. Mustang ('avalry '« " .376 

11. Maguey Plant, Kancho, Dress of Mexican, &c " " 378 

12. Ancient Mexican Idol «« " 389 

13. City of Taiupico, from Fort Andonega " " 393 

14. Mouth of Panuco River, from Do " « 393 

1.^). IJatllo Ground of Uuena Vista - «' " 4G0 

10. Ruiiifi of Malihran, near Vera Cruz " " 628 

17. Vera Cruz, and Castle of St. Juan de Ulloa, during the Bombard. «« " .'J36 

18. 7'wigof Musquit « '• 553 

19. Gate of Mercy, at Vera Cruz «< " 566 

20. National Bridge, or Puento Nacional " « 574 

21. View of Battery No. 2, at Orro Gordo " " 580 

TZ. Plan of tlui Battle (Jround of CIcrro Gordo •« " 586 

23. Mountain of Orizaba " " 614 

Also; A Fink Map of MkxicO and Calivounia, expressly 
corrected for this work. 



CAU S E S 



COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR. 



For more than thirty years had the United States been in 
a situation of continual peace with all foreign nations. 
Peace being the true policy of the government, the tendency 
of the acts of each successive administration has been 
towards preserving that state with all mankind. Small con- 
tests, more of a domestic nature, have from time to time been 
carried on with the different tribes of Indians within her 
limits ; the longest continued of which was the " Florida 
war," with the tribe of Seminoles. This, though long pro- 
tracted, and arduous, from the nature of the country in which 
it was carried on, was, in a national point of view, but of 
minor importance ; the same is true of the other Indian wars. 
In 1835, a difficulty appeared about to be brought on with 
France ; but the war cloud, which manifested itself on the 
political horizon, was dispersed, and vanished, as all cause 
of misapprehension and dispute between the two nations 
was removed. The population of the United States, during 
this long interval of peace, increased in a manner unknown 
before in the annals of the world. This country offered a 
secure and happy asylum for the crowded population of 
Europe, where, often the most untiring industry, and the 
strictest frugality were unavailing, to secure to the poor 
mechanic, or the small farmer, even the necessaries of life. 

(13) 



14 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

These crowded in thousands to our shores, where, in the 
busy city, continual labor was to be found by them, and 
where their industry would be amply rewarded ; or, where 
throughout our ample domain, on the vast, rich prairies, the 
wooded hills, or in the fertile valleys, still uncultivated, invit- 
ing the hand of man to till and beautify them, lands and 
homes were to be procured almost for nothing ; and, settling 
upon them, soon becoming assimilated with our customs and. 
laws, were changed from the servile subjects of monarchs, to 
free American citizens. 

The vast wave of population was continually rolling to 
the westward, diverging towards the north and the south, 
until the whole Mississippi valley, then a wilderness, was 
rendered the abode of a free and happy population. 

With the increase of the population of the United States, 
the increase of her agriculture, of her commerce, and of her 
manufactures also kept pace. Her agriculture has so in- 
creased, and such is the vast abundance of the products of 
the soil, that she has the present year, 1847, presented to the 
world the anomaly of a nation carrying on an expensive 
war of invasion ; supporting her armies in a foreign country; 
abundantly supplying her numerous population at home, 
and, at the same time, sending bread stuffs, in immense 
quantities, to feed the starving population of the Old World. 
Her commerce, although the nation is, as it were, only of 
yesterday, is with the whole world, and every sea is whitened 
by her sails. Her great lakes, her majestic rivers, are 
crowded with sail and steam vessels ; her domestic commerce, 
like her foreign, has been, and is increasing in a ratio un- 
known before ; and, by the conveniences and rapidity of her 
numerous modes of transportation, distance, over her vast 
territory, may, in one sense, be said to be completely anni- 
hilated. 

So, too, have her manufactures increased in proportion to 
her agriculture and commerce ; and she is able, even now, 
to compete with the mother country in foreign markets, and, 
in many articles of common manufacture to each, to under- 
sell her. 



OF THE WAR. 15 

While thus prosperous in the three great sources of wealth, 
her people have not been oppressed with heavy burdens, to 
sustain that fabric of government which extends to them 
freedom and security. That government Avhich has proved 
the best, has also proved the cheapest. While the older 
nations are ground down, by enormous taxation, to maintain 
huge, unwieldy systems of greater or less despotism, the 
taxes upon her people have been so light as hardly to be 
known or felt ; and so vast are her resources, that even by 
this light revenue, other nations have, with astonishment, 
seen her paying off the heavy debts that hung over her at 
first ; prosecuting all the operations of government ; support- 
ing her army and navy, the means of her defence, and at the 
same time having millions of surplus revenue on hand, for 
which special legislation had to be resorted to, in order 
to determine what should be done with it. 

A republican government, which, in its most unfavorable 
form, is, to the great European monarchies, an object of appre- 
hension and dislike, so prosperous as this, and advancing with 
such giant strides towards the position of the first nation on 
the earth, could not fail to excite in those powers the most 
lively apprehension of evil to themselves, from her growing 
power, and of her prosperity exciting in the minds of their 
subjects a disaffection toward their own governments. And 
so it has been with regard, particularly, to the governments 
of France and Great Britain. Every effort that could be 
made, save open war, has been made continually, by these 
powers, to restrain and confine as much as possible the 
increasing influence of this country. Texas, once a province 
of the neighboring Republic of Mexico, having revolted from 
that government and declared her independence, and having, 
by the decisive battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21st, 
1836, firmly established that independence, continued a sepa- 
rate republic for ten years, when it was annexed to the 
United States, by mutual agreement of the two governments 
and the people of both republics. Texas ceased to exist as 
a separate republic, and entered the Union as a State on the 
19th of February, 1846, previous to which her independence 



16 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

had been acknowledged, not only by the United States, but 
also by Great Britain and France. This act of annexing 
Texas to the Union, had been freely discussed in both coun- 
tries, for some time previous to its completion. It was op- 
posed secretly by the powers of France and Great Britain, and 
openly by the Republic of Mexico ; and when, on the 1st of 
March, 1845, the resolutions providing for it passed the 
Senate of the United States, they were followed, in five days 
after, by a formal protest against the action of Congress in 
the matter, by the Mexican minister plenipotentiary, Don 
Juan N' Almonte, at Washington ; and to this protest he 
added the demand of his credentials, and immediately re- 
turned to Mexico. 

The government of that country also, soon after, informed 
our minister, Mr. Shannon, that all intercourse between the 
two nations must cease on the 28th of the same month, and, 
at the same time, the president of Mexico, Herrera, issued his 
proclamation to the governors of the separate departments 
of Mexico, calling upon them to assist him "in repelling the 
encroachments of the United States," as he termed it ; and, 
from that moment, the government of Mexico was bent upon 
war. On the 5th day of May following, the president of 
Texas issued a proclamation, calling on the people of that 
republic to elect sixty-one deputies, to meet at Austin, on the 
ensuing 4th of July, to decide upon the resolutions as they 
had passed the United States' Congress ; but on the 4th day 
of June following, he issued another proclamation, announc- 
ing to the people of Texas that the Republic of Mexico had 
acceded to the propositions that had before been made by 
Texas, the substance of which was, that Mexico would ac- 
knowledge her independence, provided that she, Texas, 
should not annex herself to any other power. This conces- 
sion of Mexico had been brought about through the ministers 
of France and Great Britain, in the hope of preventing the 
annexation ; those powers preferring to see Texas a sepa- 
rate, smaller republic, than, by her annexation to the United 
States, to increase the strength of that, already to them, too 
formidable a power. But it was now too late. The Texan 



OF THE WAR. 17 

Congress, with but few dissenting voices, on the 18th of June, 
1845, accepted the offer held out by the United States, in 
which they were seconded by the convention that met on the 
4th of July following. When it was seen by the government 
of Mexico that the people of 'Texas would not accept her 
terms, that government declared its determination to invade 
and reconquer the country; and immediately commenced 
forming an army on the Rio Grande. Both the Congress 
and the convention of Texas, upon their knowledge of this 
movement, requested of the President of the United States, 
to which then by their acceptance of the resolutions the coun- 
try was virtually annexed, to send a military force to the 
western frontier, to defend her from the threatened danger. 
Accordingly a portion of the army of the United States, a 
force of 1500 men, under General Taylor, in August 1845, 
embarked at New Orleans and proceeded to Texas, with 
orders to take a position between the Nueces and the Rio 
Grande, and repel any invasion of the Texan territory that 
might be attempted by the Mexican forces. This force pro- 
ceeded to St. Joseph's Island, from thence to the little town 
of Corpus Christi, situated on the main land, west of the 
Nueces river, and not far from its mouth, and there encamped, 
remaining at that place, without molestation, until the 11th 
of March, 1846. The Mexican government, in the meantime, 
continued to increase and strengthen its army at the city of 
Matamoras, on the Rio Grande, one hundred and eighty miles 
to the east of south of Corpus Christi ; but no operations 
were attempted on either side. At the same time that Gene- 
ral Taylor was ordered to the frontier of Texas, the Home 
squadron of the navy, under Commodore Conner, was ordered 
to the Gulf of Mexico, to be ready to co-operate with him in 
preventing or repelling the threatened invasion. 

While matters stood thus, Mexico having terminated all 
intercourse between herself and the United States, and at 
the same time employing all her energies in collecting 
armies on her northern frontier, with the avowed purpose 
and determination to invade and resubjugate Texas, and on 
the other hand our small but gallant army and portion of the 
2 



18 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

navy near, patiently awaiting her action, the government of 
the United States, hoping yet to avert from both countries 
the evils of that war which seemed almost inevitable, again 
offered the olive branch of peace to Mexico. On the 15th 
of September 1845, the Consul of the United States residing 
in the city of Mexico was directed by our government to in- 
quire " whether the Mexican government would receive an 
envoy intrusted with full powers to adjust all the questions 
in dispute between the two governments?" This question 
was in a month afterward answered in the affirmative by the 
Mexican government, accompanied by the request of that 
government that our naval force should be withdrawn from 
their coast while negociations should be pending. Upon this 
answer being received, the naval force of the United States 
was immediately withdrawn, and on the tenth of November 
Mr. John Slidell was appointed minister plenipotentiary to 
the Republic of Mexico, vested with full powers, to settle all 
questions of dispute between the two nations, and once more 
the cloud of war seemed about to blow over, and the rela- 
tions of peace and amity between the two nations to con- 
tinue undisturbed. 

But the Texas question was not the only cause of conten- 
tion and dispute between the two countries. Long before 
this arose, a continual cause of complaint, on the part of 
the United States against Mexico, had existed, and been 
continued for many years. Shortly after Mexico had es- 
tablished her independence from the power of Spain, an 
event which took place in the year 1821, she commenced 
a series of spoliations and aggressions upon the commerce 
of the United States, and insults to its flag. Depredation 
by her, followed depredation. Remonstrance by the 
United States, followed remonstrance ; but still the spolia- 
tions continued. In the language of the message of the 
President of the United States of December 8th, 1846 : 
" Our citizens engaged in lawful commerce were imprisoned, 
their vessels seized and our flag insulted in her ports. If mo- 
ney was wanted, the lawless seizure and confiscation of our 
merchant vessels and their cargoes, was a ready resource, 



OF THE WAR. "19 

and if to accomplish her purposes it became necessary to im- 
prison the owners, captains, and crews, it was done. Rulers 
superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid succession, but still 
there was no change in this system of depredation. The 
government of the United States made repeated reclamations 
on behalf of its citizens, but these were answered by the 
perpetration of new outrages." This course of action, so 
long continued, had it been directed towards any of the Eu- 
ropean powers, would have brought down upon her with little 
ceremony, the thunder of their cannon. But the United States 
forbore ; Mexico was a sister republic of the same conti- 
nent, and professed to make her free institutions a model 
for herself. Instead of retaliation and force, a treaty of 
amity, commerce and navigation, w^as on the 5th of April, 
1831, concluded between the two republics, in which treaty 
the rights and privileges of each power and the citizens 
thereof were so clearly laid down, that there could be no 
misunderstanding with regard to, and no excuse for the 
slightest violation of them. The hope and the belief was then 
entertained by the government of the United States, that all 
these depredations were ended. But this hope was vain. 
Mexico disregarding the solemn faith of treaties, the com- 
mittal of these injuries and insults ended for so short a 
period as to leave it hardly to be known whether for any 
time they had ceased or not. Instead of decreasing even, 
they increased, and to such an extent that President Jackson, 
in his message to Congress in February, 1837, presented 
them to the consideration of that body ; and declared that 
" the length of time since some of the injuries had been com- 
mitted, the repeated and unavailing applications for redress, 
the wanton character of some of the outrages upon the pro- 
perty and persons of our citizens, upon the affairs and flag of 
the United States, independent of recent insults to this go- 
vernment and people by the late extraordinary Mexican 
minister, would justify in the eyes of all nations immediate 
war." In this view of the wrongs suffered from Mexico, the 
President was fully sustained by the committees of both 
houses of Congress, to whom the message was referred. But 



20 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

the government of the United States still forbore, and took 
not redress in their own hands, but dispatched a special 
messenger to Mexico, who on the 20th of July, 1837, made a 
final demand for redress. On the 29th of the same month 
an answer from the Mexican government was returned, bear- 
ing on its face all the indications of fairness and candor. It 
declared that it was the anxious wish of that government, 
" not to delay the moment of that final and equitable adjust- 
ment which is to terminate the existing difficulties between 
the two governments ; that nothing should be left undone 
which may contribute to the most speedy and equitable 
determination of the subjects, which have so seriously en- 
gaged the attention of the American government ; and that, 
the Mexican government would adopt as the only guides for 
its conduct, the plainest principles of public right, the sacred 
obligation imposed by international law, and the religious 
faith of treaties, and that whatever reason and justice may 
dictate respecting each case will be done " and, " moreover, 
that the decision of the Mexican government upon each 
cause of complaint, for which redress has been demanded, 
shall be communicated to the government of the United 
States by the Mexican minister at Washington." 

These promises were fair, but the object in making them 
was only to obtain further delay, for they were entirely dis- 
regarded by the Mexican government. Five months after- 
ward the Mexican minister informed the government at 
Washington, that but four cases had been examined by the 
Mexican government, and but one of those had been favor- 
ably considered ! This manner of action under the circum- 
stances, and after the solemn promises of the Mexican go- 
vernment before mentioned, was but a fresh insult and an- 
other injury to the government and people of the United 
States, added to the long list of those that had been given 
before. 

President Van Buren immediately communicated the in- 
formation of the Mexican minister to Congress, and, after 
remarking, in his message, that " the larger number of our 
demands for redress, many of them aggravated cases of per- 



OF THE WAR. 21 

sonal wrong, and some of the causes of national complaint 
of the most offensive character, had been for years before 
the Mexican government ;" and that, also, " they admitted of 
immediate, simple, and satisfactory replies ;" and he, being 
fully convinced that the promises of Mexico were never 
intended to be fulfilled by her, went on, in the same message, 
to say : " On a careful and deliberate examination of the 
contents {i. e., of the correspondence of the Mexican govern- 
ment), and considering the spirit manifested by the Mexican 
government, it has become my painful duty to return the 
subject, as it now stands, to Congress, to whom it belongs, 
to decide upon the time, the mode, and measure of redress." 
But instead of taking redress into their own hands, the go- 
vernment of the United States still forbore, and entered into 
a new negotiation with Mexico. 

This negotiation resulted in the appointment of a conven- 
tion, Avhich met on the 11th of April, 1839, and appointed 
joint commissioners, to decide upon the claims for indemni- 
fication presented by American citizens. This appeared fair 
enough; but the object of Mexico afterwards proved to be, 
what before it had always been, to gain time, and as much 
as possible to delay and postpone any redress for her wrongs 
committed. The commissioners met a little more than a 
year afterwards, in August, 1840 ; Mexico had succeeded in 
the convention, by fair promises, in limiting the time of action 
of these commissioners upon the claims, to eighteen months ; 
a time sufficiently long, provided the parties attended to the 
business before them with assiduity. 

But there was not the slightest reason why any determi- 
nate time should have been appointed for their deliberations. 
They should have sat from day to day, until every claim had 
been examined. But it was the intention of Mexico, while 
professing to act with the utmost candor, to prevent all the 
claims that she possibly could, from being acted upon by the 
commissioners ; thus leaving all such in the same state that 
they had been for many years, and with still less prospect 
of settlement than ever before. In this manoeuvre she suc- 
ceeded well ; for, when the commissioners met, and were 



22 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

ready to proceed in their examinations and awards, many 
frivolous and dilatory points were raised by the Mexican 
portion of the commission, in the discussion of which, four 
months of the eighteen, were passed away before the Ameri- 
can commissioners could have the first case brought up ; and 
during the remaining fourteen months, every delay possible 
was made, as at first. The claims then brought forward for 
indemnification for her spoliations, and robbery in many 
cases outright, amounted to six millions and nearly three 
hundred thousand dollars. Of this vast amount, less than 
one-third, that is, two millions and twenty-six thousand 
dollars, were fully acted on and awarded, on account of the 
expiration of the time set ; leaving one million, that had been 
awarded by the American commissioners, but not decided 
by the umpire ; and upwards of three millions three hun- 
dred thousand more, that had not been taken up at all, in 
the same situation as before the commission ; and in a much 
more unfavorable condition for ever being acted upon. So 
much, then, had Mexico gained by the same course of du- 
plicity and deceit that she had ever pursued. 

That such was the motive of the Mexican government, is 
proved by her subsequent conduct. She declared to the 
United States, that it would be inconvenient to her to pay 
then, even the amount that had been awarded against her ; 
and asked for more time in which to make the payment. 
This was readily assented to, by the government of the 
United States, ever ready, notwithstanding the continued 
cause of injury that had been received at the hand of Mexico, 
to extend amity and accommodation to her. A new conven- 
tion was accordingly entered into between the governments, 
which bore upon its face, that "this new arrangement was 
entered into for the accommodation of Mexico." This con- 
vention altered the terms of payment, making them easy for 
Mexico ; and in order to settle those claims left undisposed 
of before, it was expressly agi*eed and determined that an- 
other convention should be entered into for that purpose. 

This third convention was entered into, and signed by the 
ministers of the two nations, on November 20th, 1843, and 



OF THE WAR. 23 

was ratified by the Senate of the United States, who added 
two amendments to it, of the most reasonable character, the 
more effectually to bring about the ostensible desired end of 
both parties, — the final decision and settlement of all the 
claims. Seizing hold of these amendments as a pretext, the 
government of Mexico evaded its ratification, from time to 
time, until the present. 

But even this was not all. By the terms of the second 
convention, which, as said before, was made expressly upon 
the request of Mexico to give her more time, and which was 
done freely by the government of the United States, she was 
to pay the interest that had accrued, up to that time, and the 
principal she was to pay in twenty installments, during five 
years. She paid the interest; but in two years and four 
months, to the period that the war commenced, she had paid 
but the three first installments, out of all that had fallen due; 
entirely failing and refusing to pay the others. 

This, then, was the condition of affairs during the summer 
of 1845, when war seemed inevitable ; but the prospect of 
peace brightened, as the government of Mexico agreed to 
receive from the United States a minister, " with full power 
to adjust all the questions between the two governments." 
As mentioned before, a minister, Mr. John Slidell, was ap- 
pointed on the 10th of November, with such powers. He 
proceeded to Mexico, arriving at Vera Cruz on the 30th of 
the same month, and went on to the city of Mexico and pre- 
sented his credentials ; but was refused reception, even after 
the previous agreement. 

Shortly after this refusal, the existing government in 
Mexico was subverted, and General Paredes took the place 
of Herrera, as president. This government was even more 
bitter against the United States than the former ; and actively 
employed itself in making preparations for war. Body after 
body, of troops, and large supplies of munitions of war, were 
sent to the northern frontier. 

Two months after his first application, did Mr. SHdell, by 
order of the government of the United States, on the 1st of 
March, 1846, again ofl^er his credentials and ask to be re- 



24 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

ceived in his official capacity. The reply from the Mexican 
government Avas received on the 12th. It contained a 
peremptory refusal to receive him, except in an inferior capa- 
city. This reply was written in a manner most insulting to 
the government and people of the United States, and it con- 
tained the declaration that war was the only resource of the 
Mexican Government. Mr. Slidell immediately demanded 
his passports, and shortly after returned to the United States. 

The conduct of Mexico, now left no doubt but that she 
was determined upon M^ar; and that war she soon after 
commenced. In three weeks from the time of the rejection 
of the United States' Minister, bearing the last proposal of 
peace, the Mexican Government issued orders, dated April 4, 
to General Arista, commanding the Mexican army on the Rio 
Grange, to attack our forces under General Taylor, " by 
every means which war permits." A few days afterwards, 
the president of Mexico addressed a letter to the same gene- 
ral, in which he says : "At the present date, I suppose you 
at the head of that valiant army, either fighting already, or 
preparing for the operations of a campaign ;" and, " suppos- 
ing you already on the theatre of operations, and with all the 
forces assembled, it is indispensable that hostilities be com- 
menced; yourself taking the initiative against the enemy."* 

The plan of the Mexican government was, that General 
Arista should attack, and overcome the small army under 
General Taylor, and should proceed on the invasion of Texas; 
while General Paredes followed with a larger army, to take 
possession of the country. But the Mexican army was not 
destined to make so long a march, for on the 9th, 10th and 
llthof March, 1846, General Taylor broke up his camp at 
Corpus Christi, and marched south for the Rio Grande, in 
obedience to the orders of the War Department. He was 
directed "to abstain from all aggressive acts towards Mexico 
or Mexican citizens, and to regard the relations of the two 
countries as peaceful, unless Mexico should declare war, or 
commit acts of hostility indicative of a state of war."t 

♦Arista's correspondence, captured at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, May 
9th, 1846. 

j-President's Message, December 8th, 1846. 



OF THE WAR. 25 

The attitude of the two nations, now excited the greatest 
interest among the citizens of each, and also with the na- 
tions of the old world. With the people of the United States, 
a spirit of indignation prevailed, and thousands upon thou- 
sands began to prepare for the approaching conflict, deter- 
mined, if war took place, to rush forward as citizen soldiers to 
sustain our army, against the attacks of Mexico. The 
excitement gi*ew more intense with regard to the position of 
afi^airs, and most eagerly was every word of information, 
from the army, and from Mexico, sought after and quickly 
disseminated among the vast population. Public meetings 
were held throughout the country, companies of soldiers 
raised, and their services in many instances, oftered to the 
Government of the United States, in advance of any opera- 
tions of actual warfare ; for all saw that if Mexico persisted, 
it must come. 

General Taylor continued his march toward the Rio Grande, 
his whole force amounting to upwards of 3,000 men. On 
the 18th of March he was met by a party of fifty or sixty 
Mexicans, detached by the Mexican general at Matamoras, 
who informed him that he must proceed no farther in that 
direction. This was unnoticed. The next day the advance 
guard arrived on the banks of the Sal Colorado, a small 
river running east through this section. Here was posted 
a body of Mexican cavalry, the ofiicer commanding which 
stated that he had positive orders to fire upon the army 
should they attempt to cross this stream, and that he should 
do so. The ariny encamped that night on the northern 
bank, and on the next morning forded the stream ; the Mexi- 
cans, without firing, retreated. The army continued its 
march from day to day towards the city of Matamoras, until 
the 23d, when it left the Matamoras road and struck off to 
the east towards Point Isabel on the coast. General Taylor 
was while on the march to this place met by a civil deputa- 
tion from the city of Matamoras, now but a few miles distant. 
This deputation of about forty men bore to him from Gene- 
ral Mejia, a protest against the occupation of the country 
adjoining the left bank of the Rio Grande, by the United 



26 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

States' forces, accompanied with threats, if General Taylor 
persisted in so doing. This, like the other messages, was 
unnoticed, and the army advanced to Point Isabel, where the 
fleet of transports from Corpus Christi, conve^'ing stores, &c. 
was arriving at the same time. The Mexicans there fired 
their buildings and retreated. The army remained there a 
few days, and establishing a depot, threw up strong and effi- 
cient defences around it. Leaving a small force under the 
command of Major Munroe, to garrison and defend this 
point, the army proceeded to the Rio Grande, upon the bank 
of which, opposite Matamoras, it arrived on Saturday the 
28th of March. The Mexican army was immediately drawn 
out on the other side of the river, in long and imposing col- 
umns, but nothing was done by them save a great display of 
martial music, drums, fifes, trumpets, bugles, &c. — which 
mode of salutation, whatever it meant, was answered in the 
same way, by all the trumpets and drums in the American 
lines ; so that the first meeting of the armies, ended in noise. 
The American army proceeded quietly to encamp, and the 
Mexican returned into the city. On the following morning^ 
Sunday 29th, the army moved round a long elbow or bend in 
the river, three or four miles down along the bank, but not 
more than a mile and a half in a direct line, and encamped 
in a large open plain, nearly around which, by another bend 
the river ran. This spot was nearer to, and commanded a 
better view of the principal part of the city, than the first. 
The Fort, afterwards called " Fort Brown" was, upon this 
plain, and on the bank of the river, immediately laid ofi'and 
commenced with vigor. Seeing this, the Mexican forces 
were also set to work throwing up counteracting entrench- 
ments upon the other bank ; one opposite ; another a short 
distance below, and a third in the bend of the river above ; 
all within point blank range, the river being but about two 
hundred yards wide ; and they bore upon three sides of the 
American fortification ; two of them being much higher than 
that, from the nature of the ground. To these they also 
afterward added another, on the American side and above. 
No communications passed for several days, during which 



OF THE WAR. 27 

time, by the arduous and unremitting labor of the American 
army, their fort was brought to a state of strength, suffi- 
cient, it was calculated, to withstand any effort that might be 
made by the Mexican army to reduce it. {Sec Plan of Mata- 
moras^ page 192.) 

One communication had, indeed, been endeavored to be 
made by General Taylor, by directing General Worth to 
cross the river with his staff, bearing dispatches for the 
Mexican General Mejia, and others for the consul of the 
United States there. A boat w^as after some delay sent 
from the city over for them, and General La Vega was ap- 
pointed by the Mexican commander to confer with General 
Worth. This conference however resulted in no effect, and 
General Worth returned. 

(The account of the scenes that follow, of the battles of 
Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, the bombardment of Fort 
Brown, and the taking of the city of Matamoras, the author 
quotes from " Young's History of Mexico," a late work writ- 
ten with ability and correctness.) 

" On the 12th of April, General Pedro de Ampudia form- 
ally announced to General Taylor that if he did not break up 
his camp, and retire beyond the Nueces, within twenty-four 
hours, that arms and arms alone must decide the contest. 
The reply to this demand was a peremptory refusal, and a 
declaration to the effect that the American flag would con- 
tinue to float on the shores of the Rio Grande until 'eternity.' 
The General in command qualified his refusal by offering to 
sign an armistice, w^hich should be maintained until the 
parties should receive instructions from their respective go- 
vernments. Ampudia refused to accede to this reasonable 
proposition, and proclaiming his intention of resorting to 
force, prepared to make good his threats. Shortly after- 
wards General Mariano Arista, the commander-in-chief of the 
northern division of the Mexican army arrived at Matamoras, 
and on the 24th inst., addressed a communication to General 
Taylor, informing him that ' he considered hostilities com- 
menced and should prosecute them.' 



28 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

" On the same day Captain Thornton, with a party of dra- 
goons, sixty-three in number, rank and file, were sent up 
the left bank of the river to reconnoitre and ascertain whether 
the enemy had crossed, or were preparing to cross the stream. 
While performing this duty the detachment, on the morning , 
of the 25th, encountered a division of Mexicans, two thou- 
sand in number, under the command of General Torrejon. 
Forming his squadron, Thornton, though surprised in a dis- 
advantageous position, charged upon the enemy, whose great 
superioritj' enabled them to resist the onset with such suc- 
cess that the party were compelled to surrender as prisoners 
of war, after having sustained a loss of sixteen killed and 
wounded in the gallant effort to extricate themselves. 

" On the 26th of April, General Taylor made a requisition 
upon the States of Texas and Louisiana for eight regiments 
of volunteers, each State being called upon to furnish four 
regiments. The demand was responded to with enthusiasm; 
the Governors and legislative bodies emulating each other 
in their eagerness to muster and equip the desired levies 
within the shortest possible time. Major General Gaines, 
commanding the western division of the U. S. army, ac- 
tively co-operated with the civil authorities in raising, 
organizing, and transporting the Louisiana troops to the 
seat of war. The whole force under General Taylor at this 
crisis, cavalry, infantry, and artillery, did not exceed three 
thousand men. As it was evident that the enemy would soon 
make good their threats by invading the American side of 
the river, it became necessary for the commander to act with 
great circumspection. The defences which had been erected 
after an approved fashion, under his own eye, were, in his- 
opinion, strong enough to bid defiance to the assaults of the 
hostiles should they attempt to carry the place ; an enter- 
prise scarcely to be expected from even the veterans under' 
Arista. In order, however, to put the fort in a condition to 
sustain a siege, it was necessary to obtain a supply of pro- 
visions, the commissariat having already been drawn upon, 
to its fullest extent. 

" On the 1st of May, Gen. Taylor left his position oppo- 



OF THE WAR. 29 

site Matamoras, and with the main body of his forces 
marched toward Point Isabel, near the mouth of the Del 
Norte, where, as has been stated, he had estabhshed a depot 
of arms and subsistence. Contrary to his expectations, 
he reached his destination on the following day, without 
meeting a single adversary. The works were garrisoned by 
the 7th infantry and two companies of artillery, under the 
command of Major Brown. The Mexicans had fortified the 
bank of the river by erecting batteries, in a line with the fort, 
which frowned upon the adverse shore. 

"About day-break on the morning of the 3d, the garrison 
*vas aroused by the deafening peal of the hostile ordnance ; 
which echoed along the windings of the stream, proclaiming 
that the Aztec eagle was about to encounter the bird of the 
north, in whose capacious maw lay buried the fair province 
protected by its outspread wdngs. The fire was promptly 
returned by the Americans, whose superior skill in the use 
of their guns enabled them to do infinite damage to the 
enemy. The bombardment continued several days, both 
parties toiling incessantly at the engines of death. Gene- 
ral Arista, in the meantime having completed his prepara- 
tions, crossed the Rio Grande at the head of five thousand 
regular troops, and one thousand auxiliaries, supported by a 
train of more than twelve pieces of cannon.* Arista en- 
camped at the Tonquas del Ramireno, in rear of the fort, 
and on the 6th summoned it to surrender, threatening to 
storm it, and exterminate its defenders, unless his demand 
was complied with, allowing them one hour for delibera- 
tion. As a matter of form, a council of war was called, 
which decided unanimously in the negative upon the propo- 
sals of the Mexican leader. The latter, as if determined 
to carry his threats into execution, turned his arms against 
the works, thus placing the garrison between two fires. 
Encouraging their men by their cheerful and intrepid bear- 
ing, the officers of the division plied the guns day and night, 
and with the energy of men in desperate circumstances la- 
bored to fi nish the defences. They even cut up their tents 

* Arista's Dispatch to the Minister of War and Marine. 



30 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

and fashioned them into sand-bags, which were placed so as 
to receive the enemy's fire. The siege had continued several 
days, the Americans had as yet lost but one man, who, 
strange to say, had first been wounded badly, and placed for 
safety in a casemate, when a shot striking him upon the 
head instantly killed him ! 

" On the morning of the 8th of May, 1846, the Mexican 
scouts reported the advance of the forces under Taylor, accom- 
panied by a heavy train of wagons, loaded with supplies. 
Upon the reception of this intelligence Arista marched to- 
ward the coast, leaving his second in command, Don Pedro 
Ampudia, in charge of the detachment which had been of- 
dered to keep the garrison from attempting a junction with 
the main body. At one o'clock, P. M., Arista arrived near 
the water-hole of Palo Alto, and formed his line of battle 
in an extensive plain, with his right wing resting upon a 
woody elevation ; his left was supported by a quagmire, 
very difficult of penetration. The cava,lry, which composed 
one-third of his army, was placed upon the flanksof the line 
thus strongly posted. Twelve pieces of ordnance occupied 
the intervals between the cavalry and infantry. General 
Taylor's first impulse, when he heard the cannonading at the 
fort, was to retrace his steps without delay ; but as the guns 
of the besieged continued to be heard in answer to those of 
the assailants, he relied with confidence upon the gallantry 
of the former, and resolved to complete his preparations. In 
order, however, to obtain some definite information of the 
actual condition of the party in charge of the works, he dis- 
patched Captain Walker of the Texan Rangers up the river 
for that purpose. Walker returned on the 5th, and reported 
that there was scarcely a probability of the Mexicans being 
able to reduce the fort ; stating at the same time that the 
country between the two places was alive with the enemy's 
cavalry, through which he and his men had with difficulty 
made their way unobserved. The gallant conduct of this 
officer contributed in no slight degree to relieve the feelings 
of the different divisions, as it destroyed that sickening un- 



OF THE WAR. ' 31 

certainty which is common to those engaged in operations 
at a distance from one another. 

"On the evening of the 7th, the American commander took 
up the line of march for his former camp, at the head of two 
thousand three hundred men, cavahy, infantry, and artillery; 
the army was encumbered with a heavy train of wagons, 
which somewhat retarded its progress. That night Taylor 
bivouacked seven miles from Point Isabel, and on the follow- 
ing morning resumed his march. About the hour of noon, 
on the memorable 8th, the advance squadrons of horse which 
had been thrown forward reached the Palo Alto, and discov- 
ered the enemy drawn up in battle array upon the prairie, 
three quarters of a mile distant. In a short time the main 
body came up, and the General ordered a halt, that the men 
might refresh themselves at the pool. After resting an 
hour or so, the American commander proceeded deliberately 
to form his line of battle as follows, commencing on the right 
wing : " Fifth infantry, Colonel Mcintosh ; Ringgold's artil- 
lery; third infantry. Captain Morris ; two eighteen pounders, 
Lieutenant Churchill ; fourth infantry, Major Allen ; two 
squadrons of dragoons under Captains Ker and May. The 
left wing was formed of a battalion of artillery. Colonel 
Childs ; Captain Duncan's light artillery ; and the eighth in- 
fantry. Captain Montgomery. Colonel Twiggs commanded 
the right, and Lieutenant Colonel Belknap the left of the 
line."* The train was packed in the rear, protected by a 
sufficient guard. 

" At two o'clock the order was given to move forward, the 
several corps advancing steadily by heads of colamns, the 
eighteen pounders keeping the road. Lieutenant Blake, of 
the topographical engineers, having performed a skillful re- 
connoissance of the hostile line, now reported the position 
of the enemy's batteries. As the columns came up the 
Mexican cannon opened upon them a deafening but harmless 
fire.t 

* General Taylor's Dispatches, May 15th, 1846. 

j General Ampudia arrived upon the scene at this moment, and behaved well du- 
ring the day. 



32 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

"Halting his divisions, Taylor ordered them to deploy into 
line, an evolution which they performed with as much cool- 
ness as if they had been upon parade ; throwing back the 
8th infantry to secure his left flank, the General placed the 
light battery in advance ; the word was then given to return 
the adversaries' fire ; it was promptly obeyed ; the eighteen 
pounders, and Ringgold's admirable corps of flying artillery, 
poured forth a deadly stream of shot^ which soon forced the 
cavalry on Arista's left to fall back. 

" At this moment Duncan's battery, supported by May's 
dragoons, was doing equal damage on the right flank. In 
order to prevent the destruction of his army, Arista deter- 
mined to make an effort to silence the fatal engines which 
were so rapidly vomiting death into his ranks. The greater 
part of the Mexican cavalry had been posted upon their left; 
they were mostly lancers, and were commanded by General 
Anastasio Torrejon, the officer who had captured Thornton's 
party during the preceding month. "While the American 
ordance was sweeping down his files, Arista ordered Torre- 
jon to charge upon Taylor's right, while he in person pro- 
posed to advance with the rest of his lancers and the main 
body of his infantry, upon his left flank. Torrejon, supported 
by two field-pieces, attempted to obey the order, but was 
met and repulsed by the 5th infantry. Walker's volunteers, 
and a section of flying artillery under Lieutenant Ridgely, 
which raked the lancers as they retired, after this bold, but 
unsuccessful movement. — The General, anticipating a re- 
newal of the attack, now strengthened that part of his line 
with the 3d infantry. The long grass of the prairie was at 
this crisis accidentally set on fire, which being as dry as 
powder, blazed up fiercely, and for the space of an hour the 
combatants were partially hidden from each other by the 
dense volumes of smoke, which hung like a curtain between 
them, for the time at least preventing the work of death. 

" Advancing under cover of the smoke, the American 
forces now occupied the position lately held by the lancers 
near the quagmire. When the enemy's line again became 
visible, the contest was yesumed with increased ardor, the 



OF THE WAR. 33 

eighteen pounders, flying artillery, and light battery, making 
fearful havoc through the ranks of the Mexicans, whose in- 
trepid bearing was the 'theme of universal admiration' 
among those who witnessed their gallant behavior. The 
blood of both armies had now become heated; volley followed 
volley in rapid succession ; the air was filled with musket 
balls, round shot, grape, and canister. May's squadron being 
ordered to make a demonstration upon the enemy's flank, 
was driven back with loss upon the main body. Maddened 
with pain and excitement, the Mexican soldiery called out 
to their General either to advance or retreat, so that the bat- 
tle might be lost or won, and not prolonged until the artillery 
had entirely destroyed them.* Arista, in the hope of quiet- 
ing the impatience of his men, who were leaving their ranks, 
sent forward a division of lancers, under Colonel Cayetano 
Montero, to attack the right wing, from whence issued the 
most destructive fire. The cavalry were met by a battalion 
of artillery, which, forming in square, received them with 
the bayonet ; at the same moment the eighteen pounders 
opened a deadly discharge of canister, which forced the 
former to retire in disorder beyond the reach of the cannon. 
Their retreat was covered by a sharp fire of musketry from 
the Mexican lines ; a few rounds from the ordnance soon si- 
lenced even this feeble eflx)rt upon the part of Arista to 
maintain his position. The Mexicans were driven back 
in the same manner upon their right by the 8th infantry, 
Ker's dragoons, and Duncan's artillery. The shadows of 
night were now gathering upon the field, the roar of the bat- 
tle, the fierce shouts, and the clash of arms gradually ceased; 
and as the stars came forth, and mingled their radiance with 
the light of the waning moon, the groans of the wounded 
and dying were borne upon the wind, and filled the^ air with 
mournful sounds. 

" The enemy driven from his position, had retired a short 
distance to the rear, and occupied the chapparal with his 
shattered battalions, having lost in killed, wounded, and 
missing, five hundred men. The American force actually 

• Arista's Dispatch to Tornel, May the 8th, 11 P. M., 1846. 



34 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

engaged during the day, was two thousand two hundred and 
eighty-eight men, who lost nine killed, fifty-four wounded, 
and two missing. Among those mortally wounded was 
Major Ringgold, one of the bravest and most meritorious of- 
ficers in the service. The number of shot thrown during the 
day, according to Arista's account, from the American can- 
non, was over three thousand, while the Mexicans fired but 
six hundred and fifty rounds from their twelve pieces used in 
the action. 

" The weary soldiers, exhausted with their bloody work, 
bivouacked upon the field, and throwing themselves on the 
ground, reposed upon their arms until morning, lulled to 
sleep by the melancholy howl of troops of wolves, which 
scenting the carnage afar ofl', approached the fatal spot. 

" From camp to camp, through the foul womb of night 
The hum of either army stilly sounds, 
That the fixed sentinels almost receive 
The secret whispers of each other's watch ; 
Fire answers fire; and through their paly flames 
Each battle sees the other's umber'd face ; 
Steed threatens steed in high and boastful neigh, 
Piercing the night's dull ear." 

"At the dawn of day on the following morning, the Mexi- 
can army was descried retreating through the wood toward 
the Del Norte, following the road to Matamoras. Sending 
his wounded back to Point Isabel, and leaving a detachment, 
with four pieces of artillery, to guard the supply train at 
Palo Alto, the commander-in-chief ordered his columns to 
advance in pursuit of the enemy; at the same time throwing 
forward a strong party, with instructions to explore the 
chapparal and ascertain the position of the Mexican force. 
At three in the afternoon, Taylor received information that 
Arista was posted directly in front, on the road, which was 
intersected at that point by a ravine, which M^as skirted by 
dense thickets of undergrowth. The flying artillery, under 
Lieutenant Ridgely , advanced up the road, covered by several 
regiments of infantry, which were extended into the woods 
upon the right and left flanks ; the cavalry was held in re- 



OF THE WAR. 35 

serve, together with the 8th infantry, in the rear. Pushing 
onward through the chapparal, the divisions soon came 
within range of the hostile cannon. About four o'clock the 
action commenced, the enemy opening a vigorous fire from 
eight pieces of artillery, which commanded the pass. The 
fire was returned with equal energy, and in a few moments 
the engagement became general ; the infantry, upon the 
wings, and the battery in the centre, pouring in volley after 
volley, in rapid succession, which told fearfully among the 
sen-ied ranks in front, who, unable to bear the shock, were 
forced to retire behind their guns. 

" The Mexican cannon, under the charge of generals La 
Vega and Requena, was M-ell served, and kept up an inces- 
sant discharge upon the advancing columns, which had 
already suffered considerably. It became necessary, there- 
fore, to silence them, at all hazards, and Captain May was 
ordered to charge the battery with his squadron of cavalry ; 
a perilous, and difficult feat, which was, nevertheless, success- 
fully performed, the Mexicans retiring before the impetuous 
onset of the horsemen ; the guns were silenced, and General 
La Vega, who had remained at his post, was taken prisoner. 
Not being supported by the infantry. May did not retain 
possession of the guns, but fell back upon the main body. 
The 8th infantry, which had been held as a corps de reserve^ 
had been ordered up, and was now hotly engaged with the 
prolongation of the Mexican left, on the right of the road ; 
being reinforced by a part of the 5th, the division was now 
ordered to charge the batteries Avitli the bayonet, which was 
executed with admirable coolness and courage, the Mexicans 
retreating, leaving their artillery behind, in their haste to 
escape from the forest of steel which threatened to pierce 
their ranks. While rushing on to the hostile line, several 
wounded Mexicans were seen lying in their path, who called 
out to them, in the extremity of despair, for water ; in an. 
instant the poor wretches were deluged with the grateful 
element, every soldier within hearing placing the contents 
of his canteen and haversack at their disposal. In the mean- 
time, the 4th infantry, in conjunction with the light com- 



36 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

panics of the first brigade, and the 3d regiment, which had 
deployed into the wood on the right, were busily engaged 
with Arista's veterans, who resisted the efforts made to dis- 
lodge them, for a considerable time, with success. In several 
parts of the field the adversaries fought hand to hand, each 
determined, if possible, to maintain their ground. A party 
of the 4th regiment having captured a battery of one piece 
posted upon the right of the road. Arista sent a strong divi- 
sion to recover it; they were met by a company under Cap- 
tain Barbour, who, after a brief struggle, repelled them with 
loss.* This was the last effort made by the Mexican leader 
to regain his lost ground. Driven from his position upon 
both wings, and in the centre, his broken columns, unable to 
bear the fire, which, with untiring energy was poured into 
their lines, lost all hope, and retreated precipitately from the 
field, leaving even the meagre repast, then preparing in their 
camp, to be eaten by the Americans. The rear-guard, which 
had been left in charge of the baggage train, was imme- 
diately ordered up in pursuit of the flying foe, who had 
taken the road to Matamoras, followed by a squadron of 
dragoons and the other corps ; they fled rapidly, many of their 
number yielding themselves prisoners of war. In passing 

* " The following interesting account of the capture of this piece of ordnance is 
extracted from a detailed description of the actions of the 8 th and 9th of May, which 
was written by the late gallant and unfortunate Lieutenant John A. Eichey, of the 4th 
regiment United States' Infantry : ' A short time after the battle began, several of us 
became separated from our command in the brush, and started forward with the few 
men we could collect at the moment to take a battery of the Mexicans that was blazing 
away at us. We dashed forward into the ravine, across the stream which ran through 
it, and, clambering up the opposite bank, rushed across the openings of the chapparal 
toward the battery. While passing through the woods I got separated, for about ten 
minutes, from lieutenants Woods and Hays ; when I rejoined them they had cap- 
tured the cannon ; they had dashed onward upon the enemy attended by only one 
man ! The cannoneers immediately turned and fled ; before doing so they had set 
fire to the priming tube, the gun being loaded ; the match was burning slowly, and 
was about to ignite the powder, when Lieutenant Woods knocked the priming off 
with his sword. In the meantime some Mexicans ran to the mules, attached to the 
piece by a long pole, and endeavored to drag it off; Hays perceiving their intention, 
sprang forward, and snapped his pistol at them; at the same moment Woods caught 
hold of the driving reins, and turned the mules round toward the gun. By this time 
our party was reinforced, and moved forward along the road, firing all the time, and 



OF THE WAR. 37 

the walls of the fort, which, three days before, he had so 
arrogantly summoned to surrender, Arista was saluted by a 
discharge from the guns of the garrison, which caused his 
panic-stricken troops to rush heedlessly forward. In their 
eagerness to escape, hundreds of the poor fellows found a 
last resting-place beneath the turbid waters of the Rio Bravo. 
" The American army encamped for the night on the hard- 
won field of battle ; a favor purchased with the lives of many 
brave and gallant men. The marching force under General 
Taylor, on the 9th, was not more than two thousand two 
hundred and twenty-two, rank and file. The number of 
troops actually engaged was about seventeen hundred.* 
The American loss was three officers killed and twelve 
wounded; thirty-six privates killed and seventy-one wounded. 
The Mexican army was estimated at six thousand men. 
Arista having called in the parties of cavalry and infantry 
which had been posted between the Palo Alto and the fort 
opposite Matamoras, a few hours before his last desperate 
stand at Resaca de la Palma. The Mexican loss in killed 
was certainly two hundred, as that number was left upon 
the field ; his wounded was double that number ; making an 
aggregate loss in both battles, if we include the missing and 



driving the enemy before us. We proceeded on in this way with about twenty men. 
Woods now separated from us, and we were joined by lieutenants Augur and Coch- 
rane, both of the 4th. Our little party was composed of men belonging to every regi- 
ment in the army. We advanced a great distance in front of the main body, and 
were surrounded on all sides by the Mexicans, who were firing in every direction at 
other bodies of troops. At this instant a large party of lancers came charging down 
upon us ; some of our guns were loaded, some were not ; our bayonets were unfixed. 
We ordered our men to retreat. As we were falling back we saw a small detach- 
ment, under the command of Captain Barbour, coming up ; we shouted to him to 
come quickly, and hurried down to meet him. We reached him, and turned off into 
a little opening, and faced the road. As the lancers charged past us, we fired, and 
killed several of them; the rest ran away, and were again fired upon by us. A great 
many gallant deeds were performed on this day by the officers and men. Lieutenant 
Cochrane was killed in the charge of the lancers upon our party ; he received three 
severe woUnds.' Lieutenant Richey was himself much exposed during the day, and 
behaved in such a manner as to merit the approbation of his superiors in rank, and 
the esteem of his numerous friends in the army. He has been described by a brother 
officer as a ' mild, modest, unassuming young man, but a lion in battle.' " 
* General Taylor's Dispatch, May 17th, 1846. 



' y 



38 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

prisoners, of more than twelve hundred men. In the Mexi- 
can camp were found a large quantity of baggage and mili- 
tary stores, several hundred pack mules, and General Arista's 
private effects ; among which was discovered his official cor- 
respondence with his government, a number of plans, maps, 
and other documents of importance, — the enemy, in their 
eagerness to save themselves, had, in fact, left every thing 
behind them.* The number of prisoners captured was one 
hunch-ed and seventy, including fourteen officers. 

" The courage with which the Mexicans fought in both ac- 
tions was worthy of the days of chivalry, and redeemed the 
reputation of the whole nation. One division particularly 
distinguished itself; this was the battalion of Tampico, a 
corps which resisted the advance of the adverse line in the 
face of a galling fire, nor yielded a foot of ground until 
nearly every man was cut down, or swept away by the mur- 
derous discharge of the artillery .f On the morning of the 
10th of May, the victors gathered up the enemy's dead and 
<deposited them, with the remains of their own comrades, be- 
neath the sod their united valor had consecrated. The 
wounded of both armies were treated with equal care ; they 
both received the same attention from the medical staff. 
The humanity displayed by the officers and men toward the 
vanquished adds much to their renown, and sheds a bright 
ray of glory upon the victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de 
la Palma. 

" The army, on the same day, moved forward and encamped 
near the fort, which, in honor of its gallant commander, who 
had been wounded early in the siege, and had died on the 

* " A magnificent pavilion and several pieces of massive plate were among the arti- 
cles. Arista's wardrobe and personal effects were returned to him." 

-}■ " The bravest men in the Mexican army were those who belonged to the Tampico 
battalion ; they stood the destructive fire of the artillery with remarkable firmness, and 
when the order was given to retreat, but fifty of them remained alive. A member of 
this gallant corps, anxious to preserve the honor of his battalion, tore the colors under 
which they fought from its staff, and concealed it about his person. As he was re- 
treating, he was attacked by an American, who, after a desperate combat, killed the 
heroic Mexican and secured the trophy, now moistened with the blood of the bravest 
of its defenders. It is a fortunate circumstance that there are not many such spirits in 
the Mexican army." 



OF THE WAR. 39 

9th, was called Fort Brown. The loss sustained by the gar- 
rison during the bombardment, was two killed and ten slightly 
wounded ; such was the admirable arrangement of the de- 
fences, that although the enemy were constantly throwing 
round shot and shell into the works, they scarcely made an 
impression upon them. The enemy had five mortars posted 
on the opposite bank of the river, and it was estimated by 
the besieged that they threw, during the seven days occu- 
pied in attempting to reduce the fort, more than three thou- 
sand heavy missiles of various kinds. 

"On the 17th, General Taylor having procured the ordnance 
(two mortars) necessary to reduce the town of Matamoras, 
issued an order for crossing the river a short distance above. 
He had previously sent Lieutenant Colonel Wilson with a 
battalion of regulars and two hundred volunteers to the op- 
posite side to make a diversion by the way of Barrita, a small 
town between the coast and the cit}\ As the army were 
preparing to pass the stream under cover of the fort. Gene- 
ral Requena arrived in the camp and requested a conference, 
and proposed in the name of Arista, to sign an armistice un- 
til the respective governments should decide upon the ques- 
tions at issue. The American commander peremptorily re- 
fused to treat upon the subject, inasmuch as he had proposed 
a suspension of hostilities a month before to General Am- 
pudia, but that circumstances had changed since that time ; 
that he had received strong reinforcements, and that, as he 
had not begun or provoked the war, he would not now sus- 
pend his operations, but that Matamoras must be taken. At 
the same time, he informed Requena that General Arista 
was at perfect liberty to evacuate the town with his troops, 
provided he left the public property in the place. 

" Requena thereupon withdrew, promising to return an an- 
swer during the afternoon. The expected reply never came, 
and that night Arista, who had still a force of between three 
and four thousand troops of the line, besides a strong body 
of ranchero cavalry, fled from the town and took the road to 
Monterey. On the 18th, the army of occupation crossed the 
stream, and in a few minutes the stars and stripes were 



40 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

floating on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. As its folds 
were flung to the breeze, a deafening shout broke from the 
different corps, who now felt that the long-delayed hour of 
triumph had arrived. Lieutenant Colonel Garland was dis- 
patched at the head of a division of cavalry in pursuit of 
the fugitive Mexicans ; this officer followed them about sixty 
miles, and returned on the 22d, after having captured a small 
party of the enemy." — Young's Hist., pp. 343 — 359. 

When the tidings of these events reached the United 
States, a burst of feeling and enthusiasm ran like wild-fire 
throughout the Union. Congress was in session, and upon the 
official notification of the state of affairs, by the message of 
the President of May 11th, immediately passed the "War 
bill" the provisions of which were as follow : 
"An Act providing for the prosecution of the existing war between the 

United States and the RepubUc of Mexico. 
" Whereas, by the act of the RepubUc of Mexico, a state of war exists 
between that government and the United States : 

" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress jlssembled, That for the 
purpose of enabling the Government of the United States to prosecute 
said war to a speedy and successful termination, the President be and 
he is hereby authorized to employ the miUtia, naval, and miUtary 
forces of the United States, and to call for, and accept the services of 
any number of volunteers, not exceeding fifty thousand, who may offer 
their services, as cavalry, artillery, infantry, or riflemen, to serve 
twelve months after they shall have arrived at the place of rendezvous, 
or to the end of the war, unless sooner discharged, according to the 
time for which they shall have been mustered into service ; and that 
the sum often milUons of dollars out of any money in the Treasury, 
or to come into the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated be, and the 
same is hereby appropriated, for the purpose of carrying the provisions 
of this act into effect. 

" Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, Tliat the militia, when called 
into the service of the United States, by virtue of this act, or any other 
act, may, if in the opinion of the President of the United States the 
public interest requires it, be compelled to serve a term not exceeding 
six months after their arrival at the place of rendezvous, in any one 
year, unless sooner discharged. 



OF THE WAR. 41 

" Sec. 3. Jln(} be it further ejiacted, That the said volunteers shall 
furnish their own clothes, and, if cavalry, their own horses ; and, 
when mustered into service, shall be armed at the expense of the 
Uwted States. 

" Sec. 4. ^nd be it further enacted, That the said volunteers, when 
called into actual service, and while remaining therein, be subject to 
the rules and articles of war, and shall be, in all respects, except as to 
clothing and pay, placed on the same footing with similar corps of the 
United States' army ; and, in lieu of clothing, every non-commissioned 
officer and private in any company who may thus offer himself, sliall 
be entided, when called into actual service, to receive in money a sum 
equal to the cost of clothing of a non-commissioned officer or private 
(as the case may be) in the regular troops of the United States. 

" Sec. 5. Jind be it further enacted. That the said volunteers so of- 
fering their services shall be accepted by the President in companies, 
battalions, squadrons, and regiments, whose officers shall be appointed 
in the manner prescribed by law in the several States and Territories 
to which such companies, battalions, squadrons and regiments shall re- 
spectively belong. 

" Sec. 6. Jl7id be it further enacted, That the President of the 
United States be and he is hereby authorized, to organize companies 
so tendering their services into battalions or squadrons; battalions and 
squadrons into regiments ; regiments into brigades, and brigades into 
divisions, as soon as the number of volunteers shall render such or- 
ganization, in his judgment, expedient ; and the President shall, if ne- 
cessary apportion the staff, field and general officers among the re- 
spective States and Territories from which the volunteers shall tender 
their services, as he may deem proper. 

" Sec. 7. And be it further enacted. That the volunteers who may 
be received into the service of the United States by virtue of the pro- 
visions of this act, and who shall be wounded or otherwise disabled in 
service, shall be entitled to all the benefit which may be conferred on 
persons wounded in the service of the United States. 

"Sec. 8, And be it further enacted, That the President of the 
United States be and he is hereby authorized forthwith to complete all the 
public armed vessels now authorized by law, and to purchase or charter, 
arm, equip, and man such merchant vessels and steamboats as upon ex- 
amination maybe found fit or easily converted into armed vessels, fit 
for the public service, and in such numbers as he may deem necessary 
for the protection of the seaboard, lake coast, and the general defence of 
the country. 



42 CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT 

*' Sec. 9. And he it further enacted, That, whenever the militia or 
vohmteers are called and received into the service of the United States 
under the provisions of tliis act, they shall have the organization of 
the army of the United States, and shall have the same pay and allow- 
ances ; and all mounted privates, non-commissioned officers, musicians 
and artificers, shall be allowed 40 cents per day for the use and risk of 
their horses actually killed in action ; and if any mounted non-com- 
missioned officer, musician or private shall not keep himself provided 
with a serviceable horse, said volunteers shall serve on foot." 

This bill was followed on the 13th of May, by the Procla- 
mation of War, by the President of the United States, as fol- 
lows : 

By t^e President of the United States of Aineiica. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas the Congress of the United States, by virtue of the Con- 
stitutional authority vested in them, have declared by their act, bearing 
date this day, that, " by the act of the Republic of Mexico, a state of 
war exists between that Government and the United States :" 

Now, therefore,!, James K. Polk, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim the same to all whom it may concern ; 
and I do specially enjoin on all persons holding offices, civil or mili- 
tary, under the authority of the United States, that they be vigilant 
and zealous in discharging the duties respectively incident thereto : and 
I do moreover exhort all the good people of the United States, as they 
love their country, as they feel the wrongs which have forced on them 
the last resort of injured nations, and as they consult the best means, 
under the blessing of Divine Providence, of abridging its calamities, 
that they exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, 
in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting 
and invigorating all the measures which may be adopted by the consti- 
tuted authorities for obtaining a speedy, a just, and an honorable peace. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the 
seal of the United Slates to be affixed to these presents. Done 
[]l.s.] at the city of Washington, the thirteenth day of May, one 
thousand eight hundred and forty-six, and of the independence 
of the United States the seventieth. 

JAMES K. POLK. 
By the President : 

James Buchanan, Secretary of State. 



OF THE WAR. 43 

Following this proclamation of war came, on the 19th in- 
stant, the requisition of the secretary of war upon the States 
of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi, 
Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and Missouri, for troops to be 
mustered into the service of the United States immediately, 
" to serve twelve months, unless sooner discharged." To 
-these, too, were added a battalion from Baltimore and the 
District of Columbia ; also, a requisition was made at the 
eame time on all the other states of the Union, for troops to 
be raised and held in readiness to be called subsequently 
into service, at the discretion of the president. These, when 
afterwards called out from time to time, were mustered in 
for the war. 

The States of Texas and Louisiana had already, upon the 
requisition of General Taylor, sent a large quota of troops 
to the Rio Grande ; these men were mustered in for six 
months, and after the arrival of the twelve months troops, 
were discharged. Many of them, however, re-entered the 
service for twelve months. Upon the reception of the requi- 
sition, the governors of those States called upon to furnish 
the troops for immediate service, or the " twelve months' 
volunteers," issued their proclamations, in energetic terms, 
requesting their citizens to rally to the call of their country, 
and appointing places of rendezvous for the different regi- 
ments about to be formed. The call was responded to enthu- 
siastically ; thousands rapidly came forward, eager to be led 
against the enemy. The merchant left his counter ; the 
farmer his plow ; the mechanic his shop, and the profes- 
sional man his office, and all as one offered their services as 
citizen soldiers. The question was not, " Who will go?" 
but rather " Who shall remain ? " for the services of more 
than two hundred thousand were offered, and not a fourth of 
these could be accepted. Each company accepted regarded 
itself as fortunate, while those too late, rejected, returned 
disappointed to their homes. 

The infantry proceeded by sea, (save those in Kearney's 
division, whose movement was to be against Santa Fe, in 
New Mexico), and were soon on the scene of operations ; but 



44 



CAUSES AND COMMENCEMENT, ETC. 



the cavalry had to march thither by land. The route for 
the Arkansas cavalry was from Little Rock to San Antonio, 
Texas, to join the division of General Wool against Chihua- 
hua ; for the Kentucky and Tennessee regiments, from Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, to the Rio Grande, via Little Rock, Wash- 
ington, Ark., Robbins' Ferry, on the Trinity river, Washing- 
ton, Tex., and San Antonio (but this latter route by San 
Antonio was afterwards changed for the coast road) ; and the 
Missouri regiments in the division of General Kearney, to 
Santa Fe, in New Mexico. 



LIST OF REGIMENTS OF THE TWELVE MONTHs' VOLUNTEERS. 



Tennessee 



COLONELS. TIME OF MUSTER INTO SERVICB. 

{Tennessee Cavalry TnoMAS--6th to 15ih Jnne, 1846. 
1st Infantry Campbell- • 28th May to 2d June,- ■• " 
2d '• HASKELL--4th to 18ih June, " 

( Kentucky Cavalry Marshall ") 

Kentucky U^^ ^'^;'^y;;;::::::::;:::;::;:;«5^5?^^ [ 17th May to 15th June, « 



[ 1 Independent Comp. • • - Capt. AVilliams J 



Indiana- • 



Isl Infantry • 
2d Do. • 
3d Do. - 



a 



■ -Drake ) 

• Bowles [ 18th to 26th June, " 

- • -Lane) 



( 1st Infantry Mitchell) 

Ohio {2d Do. Morgan J 23d to 29th June, « 

(3d Do. Curtis) 

Ilstlnfantry Hardin),-,, . on.i. t ,i 

li Do. B,,,,,mh to 30th June, « 
^;l g°: ::::-.-.v.-:::;:;;;:;^?KR^AJ-«to2djuiy,.... - 

•1st Regiment Cavalry Doniphan- .Sth to 25th June, " 

Battalion Artillery, 16 ps. - --Maj. Clark- -ICth to I7th " " 

Battalion Infantry Major Angney- 6th to 25th " " 

Laclede Rangers Captain Hudson- •16th " " 

Missouri- • 2d Regiment Cavalry Col. Price- -1st to 16th August, « 

Battal. Do., 4 Comps.- -Lt. Col. Willock- • " " " 

, Miscellaneous Artillery, 14 ps.-Ll. Dyer- • " " " 

Mississippi-. 1st. Riflemen Davis- -Sd to 15th June, « 

Arkansas- •• " Cavalry 

Georgia • ■ . • " Infantry 

Alabama ••• " Infantry 

Louisiana ■ -Independent Comp.' 
Texas '• " . 



Yell- -30th June to 3d July, - • - " 

Jackson- • 10th to 19th June, " 

Coffee- -8th to 29th June, " 

• Capt. Blanchard- -SOth July, " 

Capt. Shivers- • • 



Maryland 
and Distr. 
of Colurab. 



I Baltimore Battalion — Lt. Col. Watson- -SOth May to 8th June, • 



THE TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEEE. 



The proclamation of the governor of Tennessee, calling 
for the quota of troops from that State, two regiments of in- 
fantry and one of cavalry, was made on the 24th of May, 
1846. The first regiment rendezvoused at Naslnille, and 
under Colonel Campbell, were soon off; the second, under 
Colonel Haskell, immediately followed from Memphis. The 
ten cavalry companies, under command of Captains Lenow, 
€aswel, Porter, Newman, Haynes, Cooper, Gillaspie, Evans, 
Marshall, and Goodnow, forming the other regiment, soon 
collected at the latter place, encamping at the "Big Spring," 
two miles east of the city. 

The author, then engaged in the practice of law in Ger- 
mantown, determined to throw aside Blackstone and Chitty, 
and take up the sword and carbine, exchanging the office 
for the camp; and accordingly he entered his name upon the 
list of the " Eagle Guards," or company G.,of this regiment, 
and immediately commenced the duties of a soldier. Upon 
the organization of the regiment, Jonas E. Thomas was 
elected colonel, Robert Allison lieutenant colonel, and Rich- 
ard Waterhouse major. 

The regiment remained at camp Carrol, at the spring, until 
the 17th of July. In the meantime, the Kentucky regiment 
of cavalry came down from Louisville, and after remaining 
encamped on the bank of the Mississippi, opposite Memphis, 
for a few days, commenced their march for Mexico. Ten 
days after, on the 27th of July, the Tennessee regiment,* num- 
bering about nine hundred and forty men, took up the same 

* As the minor details of the march of the Tennessee cavalry, through Arkansas and 

Texas, may be found only interesting to those who were attached to that regiment, or to 

those who wish an idea of the appearance of the country as passed over from day to day, 

the Author would suggest to the general reader, lo omit the peruaal of them, and continue 

liis course from Chapter III., page iS. , .^ ^ 

(45) 



46 MARCH TO LITTLE ROCK. 

line of march — as fine a body of men as could be collected, 
mounted on the best horses that the country could afford. 
The rrginient arrived at Little Rock, the capital of the State 
of Arkansas, on the 7th of August, at which place it en- 
camped for three days, and here the account of its daily 
marches, &c., commences. 

By the time of its arrival here, it had become organized 
and regular as a body; ofllcers and men were learning and 
practicing their common duties, and every part began to 
work harmoniously Vvith the whole. Before this time, how^ 
ever, there had been confusion, often, and irregularity, by 
reason of inexperience in all, or nearly so, in military life. 
The distance of one hundred and sixty miles, over which — 
from jVIemphis to Little Rock — the regiment had traveled, 
had been through a section of country of which little could 
be said. The first forty miles were in the wide swamp 
of the Mississippi bottom, muddy and almost entirely unset- 
tled, save for a few miles from the river. The next forty 
was over small hills at first, and then through a long, dreary 
waste, covered with water and low timber; then, piney, 
sand}' land; the succeeding forty through the better lands 
bordering on White river, and on to the grand prairie, which 
is thirty-three miles wide; the last forty through the prai- 
rie and sandy lands along the Arkansas, to Little Rock. 

The encampment was below the town, on the southern 
bank of the river, in a very fine situation ; regularly laid off, 
and presenting to the spectator a fine military appearance. 
It had there been placed, on account of a grove of small 
timber on the bank, and also clear springs of water, much 
better than that of the river. The regiment had now for 
several weeks been in service, but as yet no court martial 
IkuI been found necessary up to this time, when the first one 
was convened for the purpose of trying the case of a pri- 
vate, Frederick Richards, of company G.; and with the ac- 
count of this court martial, and the ceremony of punishment . 
of criminal soldiers, by "drumming them out of camp," 
the naiTative commences. 

The crime of which he was accused was, simply, stealing 



COURT-MARTIAL. 47 

a horse. Richards plead " not guilty" to the charge and 
specifications. The testimony, however, was conclusive, 
that he did, a few days before, steal and ride away a certain 
horse, with intent to deprive the true owner thereof of the 
same; which intention, however, was entirely frustrated, by 
his being pursued by the said owner, who, upon coming up 
with him, most unceremoniously took the horse and returned, 
leaving Richards to " foot it," as he had done before — his 
own horse having, a few days previous, much against his 
wish, laid down and died. 

Richards was accordingly convicted, and sentenced by the 
court-martial to be drummed out of camp on the same even- 
ing at sunset. But here was a difficulty ; not a drum was 
in the regiment, for cavalry have but little use for such 
noisy articles as those. This difficulty, however, was obvi- 
ated by the wisdom of the court, who decided that the word 
" drumming," in its military and most extensive sense, sig- 
nified " any sort of a noise, made upon any instrument what- 
ever, for instance, the musical beating of a brick-bat upon 
the bottom of an iron pan, came fully within the definition." 
This effectually cleared up the matter, much to the satisfac- 
tion of that large"^ number of amateurs of music, who wished 
to " take a hand " in the ceremony ; for any number of iron 
mess-pans and deep sounding camp-kettles could be paraded, 
and as a large slaughter house had been carried on for sev- 
eral years at the edge of the camp, any quantity of shin 
bones of cattle, calves and sheep lay scattered around, offer- 
ing, in size, &c., a great variety of substitutes for drum- 
sticks. At sunset, the regiment was ordered to parade 
without arms, save G company, to which the delinquent be 
longed : this was brought into line by itself, while at a little 
distance the regiment was formed in two long parallel lines 
facing inwards, about ten paces apart, each with any noisy 
instrument he could get. G company, with arms shoul- 
dered, was formed in sections of four. In front of it, the 
prisoner, with his baggage lashed on his back, a^ttended on 
either side by a guard with loaded carbines. Behind him 
were two buglers ; in the rear of these, three sections of 



48 DRUMMING OUT OF CAMP. 

men without carbines, each one with an iron mess-pan and 
shin-bone or brick-bat ; in the rear of these, the remaining 
sections, with their carbines at a shoulder. 

The bugles struck up in discordant notes ; the three ranks 
■of iron pans accompanied, with a most outrageous racket. 
The company marched to the head of the lines on the out- 
side, they being silent ; and, wheeling, entered the interval, 
coming down between, and as it done so, both lines joined 
in the concert on all their pans, old coffee-pots, and kettles, 
accompanied by groans, hisses, squeals and yells the loudest 
and most discordant. It was deafening, and seemed as 
though all the fiends of the lower regions had " broken loose." 

The column having passed through, the regiment was 
dismissed ; but the company, continuing their discordant 
sounds, marched with the culprit through the streets of the 
town — opening the ears of the good people with regard to 
melody — to the ferry boat, and placing him on board, sent 
him across the river, firing an irregular volley after him ; 
then, faced about, the bugles striking up harmoniously the 
*' star spangled banner," returned to the camp, and were dis- 
missed. Thus ended the ceremony of " drumming out of 
camp." 

The city of Little Rock, formerly called Arkopolis, is a 
pleasant place, occupying a situation on the southern bank of 
the Arkansas, some thirty feet above the common level of the 
river, which is navigable most of the year for small steam- 
boats, to this place ; and in high water for several hundred 
miles above. It is a river of great length, for one of its 
magnitude, rising in New Mexico, in the Green mountain, 
one of the range of Rocky mountains, and the same moun- 
tain that gives rise to the Rio Grande — the sources of the 
two rivers being but a few miles apart. The navigation of 
the Arkansas is much impeded by its numerous shifting 
sand-bars, but still much business is done upon it in the fall, 
winter and spring. At the time that we were there, how- 
ever, there was but one steamboat at the city, and she was 
laid up for the want of sufficient depth of water to carry her 
out. 



LITTLE ROCK. . 49 

Little Rock has the appearance of a place of considerable 
business. Its numerous stores are large and well filled; its 
hotels will compare favorably with those of any of the 
southern or western cities, and with regard to its private 
dwellings, there is an air of neatness and ornament, in good 
taste, about their appearance, that strikes the eye of the 
stranger favorably ; and, taking the whole together, the tra- 
veler can spend a few days in Little Rock very agreeably, 
and he certainly will be pleased with the inhabitants. 

On Monday, August 10th, we resumed our march, leaving 
fifty-two men sick at Little Rock, and discharging one young 
man belonging to company G, who became deranged, and 
kept the regiment in an uproar. Guards were placed over 
him, but he contrived often to elude their vigilance, and creep- 
ing off, would mount the first horse he came to, and dash 
about at full speed through the camp, regardless of the tents 
or men, outside, or within sleeping ; a matter of surprise that 
he did not kill or cripple some of them ; still it was exciting 
as well as amusing to see him rushing like a fiend, his horse 
without saddle or bridle, unexpectedly into a crowd of men, 
and to see with what agility and quickness they gave him a 
full pass way. His actions became so outrageous that the 
Colonel was obliged to send him back to Memphis. The 
whole town ^vas out to see our departure, as in a long ex- 
tended unbroken column four deep we moved through the 
city, and took the road for Washington, in Hempstead county. 
Three days' march brought us to the Washita river. The 
evening of the second day we encamped on the bank of the 
Sabine river, and the evening of the third at Rockport, a 
little village on the bank of the Washita. The march of the 
first day from Little Rock was over a succession of small hills, 
very stony and barren ; the valleys were of pretty fair land, 
streams of pure water crossing the road every few miles. 
The second day's march was over a more sandy section but 
little better in soil, improving however near the Sabine. We 
passed through the little town of Benton, and four miles fur- 
ther encamped on the western side of the Sabine, where we 
found an abundant supply of corn and oats in large piles on 
4 



50 ENCAMPMENT AT SABINE. 

the ground, provided for us by the forage master Mr. Davis, 
who kept his position two days in advance of the regiment, 
selecting the camping places and making his contracts with 
the neighboring farmers for the supply of forage delivered at 
the ground, by the evening that the regiment was to arrive. 
The payment for the same was made by the quartermaster, 
Major Vaughan, attending the regiment. The supplies of 
provisions, &c., attended in their laying in and issuing to the 
troops, by the commissary, Lieutenant Woodson, consisting 
of mess pork, hard bread, sugar, coffee, salt, vinegar, and 
occasionally pickles, were hauled in the train and replen- 
ished, as they gave out, from the various depots, already pro- 
vided for us by the government. These depots were situated 
at Memphis, AVhite River, Little Rock, Washington, Ark., 
or rather Fulton on Red river ; Robbins' Ferry on the 
Trinity river, Tex. ; Washington, on the Brazos, San Anto- 
nio, on the river of the same name. Western Tex., or Port 
Lavacca on Lavacca Bay ; Corpus Christi, Point Isabel, and 
Matamoras, Mexico, the whole route being about fourteen 
hundred miles. So far we have not had the slightest reason 
to complain of quantity or quality of the provisions issued to 
us ; to those already mentioned, is added fresh beef, when- 
ever it can be procured. 

But to return to the encampment at the Sabine. It was a 
pleasant situation under lofty trees. The day had been very 
hot, and the men and horses now filled the stream, bathing 
and washing off. The water was clear, the bed round peb- 
bles, two pebbly islands were at the ford, dividing the river 
into three swift channels ; above these it spread out wide, 
smooth, clear and deep; below, the same; a better place we 
could not wish. 

The third days' march from Little Rock was over a rough, 
rocky, hilly, and generally, save in the bottoms, barren coun- 
try — considerable pine on the hills. The camping ground on 
the Washita river at Rockport was reached at an early hour ; 
plenty of corn and fodder, more than our horses wanted, 
was already there. The Washita is a pretty stream, longer 
than the Sabine, rising about sixty miles to the north-west 



MAGNET COVE. 51 

of this point, and running south-eastwardly, flowing into 
Red River, in Louisiana. Its water is clear, but at this point 
and above, the river is obstructed by large rocks in its bed ; 
the face of the country bordering on it is quite hilly, and to 
the north becomes mountainous. 

Seven miles north of our encampment was the " Magnet 
Cove," which the author visited. It is an extensive, nearly 
circular basin, as it were, surrounded by high, steep hills. 
A bed of magnetic iron-ore is in it, and gives it its name ; the 
ground is filled with detached, irregular-shaped pieces, from 
the size of a half bushel measure, down to that of a hazel nut; 
each piece has its two poles, and is strongly magnetic, though 
varying much in intensity of power. The lady of Governor 
Conway, who has a plantation in the cove, informed him that 
pieces of a pound weight, or a little upwards, had been often 
found there, that would by attraction sustain a string of from 
six to eight tenpenny nails, by the point of one ; the attraction 
extending down through the whole, holding each to its place, 
as though tied there ; but he was not able to find any piece, 
of that size, that would sustain in that way more than three, 
though they held securely as many as could be attached, each 
one by its own point. The magnetic compass of the sur- 
veyor is of no use, for many miles around this cove, pointing 
to the cove, instead of the " north." 

Fifteen miles further to the north are the famous " Hot 
Springs." He did not visit them, though several of the oflicers 
and men did, leaving the road for that purpose a little this 
side of Little Rock. They describe the place as amply re- 
paying them for their trouble ; the number of separate springs 
to be large — above seventy; if he was informed correctly, the 
temperature of the different ones varying a little, but all near 
the boiling point. These springs are much resorted to by 
invalids suffering from the effect of difl^erent diseases ; for all 
such, the waters are said to be beneficial, save to those 
afflicted with diseases of the lungs, which, it is said, are 
aggravated by their use. His information, with respect to 
the springs, is all second hand ; though he presumes it to be 
correct. The accommodations for visitors, at the springs,, 



52 CAMP AT CADDO. 

are described as being good, fare excellent, fine opportuni- 
ties for fishing, and better for hunting — bears, deer, and tur- 
kies, being found in the neighboring mountains. 

We left the Washita on the following morning, August 
13th, but marched only nine miles, and encamped on a little 
rocky brook, in the most contracted situation that we have 
so far occupied ; the encampment not being laid off in order. 
A rain coming up, made it more unpleasant, and we were 
rejoiced to leave it the next morning; for all the men were 
somewhat surly, not having room enough to be comfortable. 
But after getting off", and marching four or five miles, the 
clouds broke away, the sun came out bright and pleasant, 
the trees looked fresh and green, the road was beaten hard 
with the rain, rendering the traveling good, and universal 
cheerfulness and good humor were immediately restored. 
The march, this day, brought us to the Caddo river, on the 
bank of which we encamped, on the lands and near the house 
of a wealthy old settler here. Judge Barkman. The camp 
was in a fine situation, level ground, thinly scattered trees, 
and plenty of room. The miserably-formed camp of the last 
night had, in its inconvenience, awakened the field-officers 
to attend to the laying off" of the ground as it should be ; each 
company's tents in one straight line, and the ten lines 
perfectly parallel with each other, with plenty of space be- 
tween ; for a cavalry camp occupies double the area of one of 
infantry, of the same number of men ; for a thousand horses 
take up much room. Lieutenant-colonel Allison attended to 
this in person, this evening, laying off' and appointing to each 
captain the position of his company. The commissary pro- 
cured plenty of fine fresh beef, this day, — issued, also, a sup- 
ply of salt, flour, sugar and coffee to the troops. The best 
spring that we had seen since we left Memphis, was in the 
limits of the camp, on the bank of the Caddo, and pure water 
was abundant. 

A universal determination seemed to have been prevalent 
through the whole regiment, as we had arrived in camp so 
early in the afternoon, to have good suppers ; and such 
joasting, broiling, baking, stewing, and boiling, had not been 



SOLDIERS COOKING. 53 

done before ; there were about one hundred and seventy 
messes in the regiment, and of course, as many fires and 
cooks : the smoke, rising in volumes from these fibres, so 
near together, settled in a light-blue haze or cloud over the 
scene, enveloping the tops of the trees ; for the air was per- 
fectly still, and the sun was sinking down. Each mess got 
its supper ready; some had soup; some beefsteaks; some 
roast beef; some stewed, and some had, in trying to prepare 
their own, in some one or another of the styles mentioned, 
made queer dishes, of odd appearance, and of still more odd 
a taste ; — here, in one mess,w^as a row of white, good-looking 
biscuit, daintily set out on a line of chips, and the soldier 
who had made them, looked at them with pleasure ; while 
his comrade of the next mess, at the neighboring fire, who 
had made as strenuous efforts to have his own nice, too, with 
a disappointed expression was placing out a lot of dark, 
mongrel-looking balls of baked and burnt dough, each solid 
enough to knock a steer down. Here was a chap, for the 
first time in his life, probably, roasting some coffee ; his iron 
fryingpan full, on a hot fire smoking, while he stirred it, 
sweating with the heat. The coffee was roasted, but he, not 
knowing when to stop, determined to do it well; and con- 
tinued with it, hotter still, until it had nearly ceased to 
smoke, and turned in color of an ebony black ; he had got it 
almost to pure charcoal. He found it very easy to pound 
(for all the coffee was pounded in tin cups, with a stone, 
muzzle of a pistol or carbine), but not so easy to settle, after 
boiling. In fact, it would not settle ; he turned in cold 
water, several times, but it was still thick, and, one of 
his messmates, as he sat down to it, declared, with a sour 
look, that he never could have told, from its taste, that that 
mixture was intended for coffee. 

The supper was ended over the camp by sunset, the horses 
all fed, and they, like ourselves, had an abundance, and 
nearly the whole regiment went out on the banks of the 
Caddo, about one half to enjoy the scene and the bracing air 
of the evening, and the other half to have the fun and frolic 
of a good bath and swimming-spell. Many took their horses 



S4 SQUATTER GIRL. 

in the water with them, to practice them in swimming; and 
quite a scene took place of playing, diving, ducking and 
splashing, with bursts of merriment and laughter. After 
•dark this ended, and all lay down and slept well. 

The next morning, August 15th, the breakfasts were got 
and disposed of early, the tents were all down, the wagons 
loaded, horses saddled, the ground cleared, and the lines 
formed by seven o'clock ; and, at the sound of the bugles, we 
again moved ahead. 

The march, to-day, was over a better farming country than 
before, though not first-rate. Obtaining permission to leave 
the lines, the author stopped with the assistant-surgeon of 
the regiment, at one of the houses on the roadside, to get 
some fruit ; but we found little, and that was worthless. A 
queer family lived here. The log house was rotten and tot- 
tering ; the broken dirt chimneys nearly down ; the fences 
around were also down, and the field, or the larger part of 
it, growing up with tall weeds and sassafras bushes ; a good 
piece of corn, however, was on the other part. 

A woman, tall, stooping and dirty, with torn dress and 
tangled hair, was within the house, with four or five 
stout, half-savage looking boys and girls, bare-foot, bare- 
headed, sun-burnt, and half dressed. Three large, surly bear 
dogs forbade our entrance, until driven off" by the oldest girl, 
who wielded a club among them in a manner that showed 
she was used to it ; and then coming forward, with consider- 
able kindness of expression in voice and look, which even 
the wildness of her general appearance could not destroy, 
she invited us to alight; informing us at the same time, " that 
her father was not at home ; that he was ' bar huntin'," 
presuming that we had<come to see him. She was perfectly 
at her ease, not in the slightest degree abashed ; and as she 
stood erect, her bare feet firmly planted on the ground ; her 
short sleeved, coarse dress leaving bare her arms, w^ell 
formed, but browned and sun-burnt; and her face open, frank, 
with fine blue eyes, and a full high forehead ; and as she 
rested on the large stick in her hand, with which she had 
just walloped the dogs, who were yet barking fiercely at us 



CAMP AT LITTLE MISSOURL 55 

round the corners of the house, she showed that, although 
her father was not, she felt herself perfectly at home. 

We went in. We soon soon saw that the woman was too 
fond of liquor, the fumes of which were apparent to the 
senses. Visiting the orchard, and finding no good fruit, we 
remounted and overtook the column of troops. 

At five o'clock we encamped in the thick woods, up and 
down a half stagnant stream of water, where abundance of 
forage had been piled up. On the following day, Sunday, 
August 16th, the regiment was again formed, and with the 
wagon train started at an early hour, and at two, P. M., we ar- 
rived at our next encampment, on the western bank of the 
Little Missouri, one of the tributaries of the Washita ; a 
clear, rapid stream, with pebbly bottom. We encamped in 
the cane; the lines of tents were soon up, the fires built, and 
every one felt himself perfectly at ease. The loads of corn 
soon came in and were distributed, and our horses abun- 
dantly fed. 

A general disposition in our company was manifested for 
singing, and the captain had all the good singers in front of 
his " marquee " at it, and all seemed to enjoy the afternoon 
much. Many groups of men were off" to themselves in the 
cane, lying down in the shade of the trees, conversing with 
each other of home and the Sabbath meetings there ; and now 
they found that every little circumstance that memory 
brought up, that at the time of its occurrence passed almost 
unnoticed, was of interest, and gave pleasure in the recital. 
The country through which, this day and yesterday, the regi- 
ment passed, continued poor. We left the camp on the Little 
Missouri at seven o'clock on the following morning, and 
marching eighteen miles, came to a Baptist camp-meeting 
ground, near to the town of Washington ; here we pitched 
our lines of tents, using the water of the Baptistry (a stone 
basin fed by a spring) for ourselves and horses. It held 
about thirty hogsheads ; but it was not a " priming," and 
several of the companies were obliged to saddle up and pro- 
ceed on to town, in and .about which, at the various springs, 
they found water. The spring, or rather springs, at which 



56 WASHINGTON. 

our company encamped, were fine : clear, cold and copious, 
offering abundant supply for men and horses. They were 
situated at the head of a deep ravine, shady and pleasant, 
at the edge of town. We arrived here after dark, and not 
being able to find any wood, of course could build no fires, 
and lay down to sleep without putting up our tents or get- 
ting any supper. The sand made a good bed, and we slept 
well. 

The next morning we were ordered up to roll call, after 
which the tents were put up, as the colonel had directed that 
the regiment should remain here for a day or two, to have 
the horses shod, and to take a new supply of rations. We 
got our breakfast quickly, for we had had nothing to eat since 
breakfast the morning before ; afterwards we were dis- 
missed, and went into the town. Though not so large as we 
had anticipated, we found it a brisk little place, with a few 
stores, and a printing office of a weekly paper. The ladies 
of the place had made a beautiful American flag, forty feet 
by twenty, which remained in the breeze on its lofty staff" 
during our stay, and added much to the appearance of the 
village. 

The men of the regiment had expected to be paid off" here, 
two months' wages, forty dollars each ; it being the custom 
in the army, to pay the troops every two months ; but they 
were disappointed ; the pay-master who had been stationed 
here, leaving the day before we arrived. The citizens in- 
formed us that the Kentucky cavalry, which had left a few 
days before, (mentioned as taking the route from Memphis, 
ahead of us), were disappointed in the same way, and diffi- 
culty and insubordination, for a while, seemed about to en- 
sue. It was, indeed, a great disappointment to hundreds of 
our men, who were now entirely out of money, and, in fact, 
had been borrowing, expecting to pay here. Not a cent had 
they now, even to get any clothing washed, and no prospect 
of getting any beyond this, on the whole route to Mexico. 
(And so it happened afterwards : not a cent did they get until 
after our arrival at Matamoras. Money became, through 
Texas, of the highest value — was freely borrowed, at any 



SOLDIERS WASHING. 57 

premium — and the smallest amount could not, often, be got 
at all.) 

The men soon returned to camp, sour and angry, but 
after a while recovered their good humor ; and as the day 
vvas fine, and there was plenty of water, — and soap had 
'seen issued in abundance, — they proposed to wash for 
themselves ; this was agreed to by many, and they went at 
it. (In the regular army, four women are allowed to attend 
each company. They draw their rations as the men. They 
are called " laundresses," and their duty is to wash for the 
soldiers ; their price for washing being fixed by the officers, 
and their pay received on pay day, deducted from the wages 
of the soldier. But there were none of these, as far as our 
observation extended, among the volunteer regiments.) 

From the springs the water was conveyed by troughs to a 
bath house, a little way down the ravine ; previous to enter- 
ing which, however, it was collected in a plank reservoir, 
twelve feet by six, and two deep ; here was an excellent 
place, and they collected around it, and along the troughs, 
and washed and scrubbed amid jokes and laughter. One de- 
clared that he never knew what women were made for be- 
fore. Another took him up on this ungallant expression, de- 
claring that since he had found out that washing was such 
hard work, he thought that women should not be allowed to 
do it, but that men should be compelled to perform it. To 
this, the rest all agreed, but hoped that they might be out of 
the way when such a measure was adopted. After several 
hours they got through, and put their clothes in the hot sun 
to dry : there was a little difference in their looks, but not 
much. 

We remained at this town until the 23d ; nothing oc- 
curred of any importance, save one or two court martials on 
men for different offences. One man stabbed another in a 
quarrel. We found the time very dull ; after the first day 
passing heavily. The sun was very hot, and in those ra- 
vines, the cooling breeze could not come ; many of the men 
became sick, and we were rejoiced to hear on Sunday morn- 
ing, August 23d, the order to " strike tents, and saddle up." 



58 FULTON. 

This was quickly performed, and we soon were again on the 
march toward Fulton, on Red river, distance fifteen miles. 
Some of the companies went on thither, and commenced 
crossing, while the remainder of us encamped three miles 
from the town, and on the following morning went on. The 
crossing was extremely slow ; two small flats being the only 
conveyance; these were poled over by negroes, and had to 
perform eighty trips each to take the regiment and the wagon 
train over, a slow business, and our own company did not 
cross until late in this day, for ten horses and men were all 
that could be taken at each load. 

The town of Fulton has nothing attractive in its appear- 
ance, being small, dilapidated, and extremely dull and 
lonesome. Unhealthy, and totally wanting good water ; 
the river water is brackish, and unfit for use; wells sunk here 
affording only the same kind, cistern water is all that is fit to 
drinlc. Fulton was originally laid off" for a large town. It is 
surrounded by the most splendid lands (Red River bottom), 
and when the Raft, a collection of floating timber, that had 
entirely blocked the river below, was opened at great ex- 
pense by the government, Fulton promised to be an impor- 
tant place, but the Raft in despite of all endeavors to keep 
it open, closed again and remains closed ; with this the pros- 
pects of Fulton died ; the rich lands of the surrounding 
country fell in price one half. Four small steamboats ply on 
the river above the Raft, and the produce they bring down 
is hauled across the bend in which that is situated ; then re- 
shipped. 

When all the regiment had crossed the river, we pur- 
sued our literal winding way through the rich bottom, 
and marched twenty-two miles. The wagons stuck in the 
mud of the bottom, and did not get up to camp until late at 
night ; so of course, there were no tents or supper. Cross, 
tired, and sleepy, each stretched his blanket under the oaks, 
after feeding his horse with a half ration of forage, all that 
covild be got, wrapped himself up and slept till morning, 
though chilled with the heavy dew. 

The bugles sounded at daylight. The wagons had got up ; 



LINE OF TEXAS. 59 

^we soon got something to eat, and again were on the march, 
Company G was second in line, to-day, Captain Lenow's 
being ahead ; the order of changing companies, on the march 
was, that the advance company to-day, goes round to the rear 
to-morrow ; the next company in succession being the ad- 
vance, and going to the rear the next day; each company 
being in advance one day in every ten. The column and train 
being about two miles in length, when marching in two's, the 
common way, there was a great advantage in being the ad- 
vance, in avoiding the dense clouds of dust raised by so many, 
and getting clear water from the streams and ponds, which 
soon for the middle and rear became very muddy; also in 
getting to camp in better season at night ; and getting there 
first, the advance had the opportunity of selecting the 
better ground, though that depended much on the judgment of 
the captain or officer in command of each company. In these 
was a difference. When, however, the oamp was laid off reg- 
ularly, of course we were all alike. 

Having left the fine lands of the bottom, we marched over 
small "black jack" ridges, lonely, poor, and uninteresting. 
At nine o'clock, A. M., we crossed the line and entered 
the State of Texas. The line, formerly of the two repub- 
lics, now in one, runs north and south ; is cleared of tim- 
ber, about forty feet wide, and reminds one of a rail-road 
commenced. The march, to-day, was twenty-two miles ; no 
water along the road save a boggy creek near camp, in which 
the author was quickly thrown, by the miring down of his 
horse ; wetting and miring himself, clothing, and saddle, 
finely. We arrived in camp at More's, a small store, at three 
o'clock, P. M. 

After unsaddling and securing our horses to the pines 
around, according to usual custom, we collected in little 
groups ; seated on the ground, engaged in conversation, or 
stretched out to sleep ; but we were soon interrupted by the 
information that our company wagon had broken down be- 
hind, — no prospect for supper again, — and besides that, it 
was one of those places where the forage procured, had to 
.be hauled by our wagons to the camp ; which often hap- 



60 SULPHUR FORK. 

pened, on account of the person from whom it had been pur- 
chased, not being able to convey it thither. 

We saddled up again, and each man went for his own that 
evening; distance two miles or more. The wagons, how- 
ever, got up by the time we came back, and all was again, 
right. Though too late to pitch the tents, we got our mess- 
bags, containing our cooking utensils and provisions, and, 
with plenty of dry wood and first rate water, we were per- 
fectly at home ; and after supper, in quite a strain of fun- 
and frolic, singing, laughing, &c. 

The next morning was pleasant and cool. We were a. 
little later than usual in starting, the wagon-train delaying 
us. The method of the march of the train was this. Each of 
the ten companies was attended by its own wagon ; twenty- 
eight wagons more, called, in distinction, the train, followed, 
together. These contained ammunition and other articles sel- 
dom disturbed. The remaining wagons, some thirty-five or 
forty, followed at more leisure. This arrangement, however^ 
was altered afterwards, by all the baggage train going to- 
gether, with the rear guard following, which is the proper 
way. 

The march on Monday was sixteen miles, over a poor,piney, 
uninteresting section. The camping ground was on each 
side of the Sulphur Fork, a tributary of Red river, a muddy,, 
deep stream about eighty yards wide. Four companies 
crossed in the ferry boat ; six remained and crossed the next 
morning. We were supplied with fine beef, and had good- 
suppers ; but the forage for our horses was scant. There 
was some grass under the tall trees that helped them out,, 
however. 

After the early supper, many of the men proposed to go 
bathing in the deep river ; but they abandoned the idea^, 
when ready to plunge in, on seeing the rusty head of a large 
alligator emerging from the turbid water, as if to see what 
was the occasion of the unusual noise on the banks of the 
river; in a moment or two slowly sinking again. There be- 
ing no such *' varmints " in Tennessee, most of the men had 
never seen one before, and the view of his ugly phiz was- 



ALLIGATORS. 61 

enough for them. They put on their coats and left. An- 
other man came down. " Have you been in already," said 
he. " No. We won't go in ; there are too many alligators," 
they replied. "Alligators! d — m them; who cares for them;" 
and declaring he did not, stripped off and dove in ; rising, 
popped up his head, " come on boys ; d — m alligators ; 
whoop ! " and he, yelling several times, true Indian fashion, 
dashed out into the middle of the river ; but suddenly turn- 
ing, in silence, and with every nerve strained, struck for the 
shore again, which he reached quickly, and hauling himself 
from the river, looked back with earnestness. "What is the 
matter, Bill ? " asked a dozen, seeing him so alarmed. "A 
d-d-a m-d alligator," said he, catching his breath, " rubbed 
his scaly back along under me." The group of men were 
enjoying their laughter, for every one thought that only a 
floating branch had touched him in the muddy stream ; but 
he insisted it was an alligator. He dressed and put out, and 
the bathing was ended. 

The next morning the company was with difficulty started 
on the march in season to secure its place in column ; for the 
captain, the first, second, and second assistant lieutenants 
were all off during the night, nobody knew where ; and the 
orderly sergeant, having such an example as this set him by 
the commissioned officers, thought he might as well go too, 
and he did so ; and this morning, when all the other compa- 
nies were saddling up, we had no officer on the ground of 
higher rank than second sergeant, and so the company re- 
mained still. Presently all the officers were on the gi-ound 
together, and the whole, with one voice, commanded, " Sad- 
dle up ! men ; saddle up ; " but it was the slowest saddling 
that had been done so far. They fretted, threatened, and 
fumed, but not a whit faster did the men move. If they had 
been in their place, the men would have been in season, but 
their neglect of duty was too plain. 

The march, to-day, was through dense, still forests ; not a 
sound could be heard, neither the hum of bee nor the chirp 
of bird ; not a living thing could be seen ; stillness profound, 
solitude complete ; there being nothing to arrest the atten- 



63 SICKNESS IN CAMP. 

tion, the march of fifteen miles seemed, in length, to be thirty; 
but so it was. For the next two days the march was about 
the same, the lands, however, becoming much better. We 
passed out of the county of Bowie, and entered that of Titus. 
To the south-east of us, at the distance of twenty-five or 
thirty miles, lay Caddo lake, a body of water which commu- 
nicates with Red river, below the Raft. The lands on the 
northern and western part of this lake are said, by all the 
settlers here, to be high, and very fine; good water, and good 
health; with steamboat navigation throughout most of the 
year; the land cheap. If such is true, and all here agree 
in it, it is a desirable place for emigrants. Whatever the 
health may be there, however, thirty milesofT, we would judge 
this section to be sickly. 

The men of the regiment are falling sick fast ; those, too 
sick to go on are left at the houses along, with attendants, to 
come up as they recover. This is very unpleasant to them, 
though their expenses are paid by the quartermaster ; many,, 
sick enough to stop, by their urgent request are hauled along 
in the hospital-wagons ; others who are unwell, yet who can 
keep on horseback, are allowed, at daylight, to ride ahead, 
and resting the middle of the day, to come up to camp in 
the evening; there are many of these. In the meantime, 
every day there are some left, and others, who had been left, 
coming up, recovered ; in many of the houses we find mem- 
bers of the Kentucky cavalry, left by that regiment, sick. 
It is a bad place to be sick in a regiment on the march. The 
attention which one gets at home, cannot be found here ; no 
conveniences can be procured. Exposure must be endured 
by the sick and M'^ell ; the ground is the only bed, and a drink 
even of clear vvater cannot be had at all times. 

Sunday, August 30, at five P. M., we encamped on Cypress 
creek, a dirty, slow stream ; a quarter of a mile from old 
Fort Sherman. Many men taken sick this day and last 
night. Four of our company were left, this morning. This 
day was hot, and the march tedious ; the section of country 
passed over was of prett}^ fair land, thinly covered by a 
gi'owth of large oak and hickory, but it was not well watered. 



THE PHILOSOPHER. 63 

We came to but one brook of running water during the day; 
this was of steep, high clay banks ; and down these, some 
eight feet, the horse of one of the company fell ; and so 
managed his fall, that he turned completely over, and came 
down into the mud and water on his back ; nor could he 
turn over then, for the sloping sides of the ditch held him 
in that position, while the muddy water rapidly ran over 
his body and head ; and he would have drowned, in a mo- 
ment or two, had not his rider, who fortunately jumped off 
as he fell, sprung into the ditch and held his nose above the 
water, calling loudly for assistance, which was rendered in a 
moment, by twenty or more. The rider, a man of twenty- 
eight or twenty-nine years, tall, slim, thin-visaged, sandy 
hair, and by name Ingram, had obtained, in the camp, the 
appellation of "the philosopher," from his sedateness and 
fondness for argument. Cool at all times, he was so now; 
while others laughed at the singular attitude of himself and 
his horse, he continued to hold his steed's head above the 
water, until they had finished their " guffaw," and laughed 
out, and were ready to assist him; they soon got him out; 
but in an awkward plight. The philosopher raked the mud 
from the seat of the saddle, shook it from his camp blanket, 
examined his saddle-bags, and finding his clothing well satu- 
rated, and muchmudon the top of it, appeared (from his steady 
countenance) to be very well satisfied ; said not a word, but 
with his boots full of mud and water, rose into his saddle 
again, and rode on, the same philosopher ; not opening his 
mouth about it during the rest of the march of the day. 

The regiment started early, the next morning, from Cy- 
press creek. The author did not accompany it, being detailed 
on the " wagon-guard," of the company, for the day ; and as 
the wagon needed repairs, the forge was stopped with it, and 
the carpenters and blacksmiths set to work upon it to make 
a new axletree. The wagon-guard must always reniam 
with the wagon; is composed commonly of five men, who 
serve for the day, load the wagon in the morning with the 
tents and mess bags, &c., go wdth it during the day, and un- 
load it at its arrival at the encampment for the night, and, if 



64 DETENTION OF WAGON GUARD. 

it breaks down, to stay with it until it can be brought up. 
Such was our case. 

The axle-tree was not finished until two o'clock, P. M. ; 
when we started on ; the distance to the next camp was 
said to be twenty-eight miles ; we had little hope of arriving 
there on that afternoon ; and, as we had heard that there 
was no house for the whole way, we had provided a large 
bag of corn, picked up in the camp, to serve our horses on 
that night, should we not. 

We crossed Cypress creek, and were then in the county 
of Upshur. The road was lonely to us, having been accus- 
tomed so long to be with the whole regiment. The lands, 
although uncultivated, were pretty good, mostly covered with 
oak and hickory ; there appeared to be wild turkies in abun- 
dance, and wolves, from the tracks in the road. We killed 
a turkey, which helped us out at night. We traveled on in 
hopes of getting to camp, until ten o'clock, P. M. The moon 
was bright, and the road was good, but the wagon was heavily 
loaded ; and the mules being tired, we stopped at a lovely 
little creek, of good water, with thick trees over it, under 
which, on the bank, we determined to sleep ; for although 
we had fourteen tents in the wagon, all that belonged to the 
company, we did not set up one. We built fine fires, and 
having fed our horses with the corn we had brought, we 
proceeded to cook our turkey, which we did in good style, 
having all the cooking materials and provisions of the whole 
company with us ; which they were obliged to go without, 
that night and the following morning. 

We carefully examined every mess bag ; we found plenty 
of pork and bread in the first ; a good camp kettle and cof- 
fee pot, but no roasted coffee ; so we looked further ; in an- 
other we found plenty of coffee roasted, which suited us ex- 
actly, and a paper of salt, which had been a scarce article 
for several days ; continuing our investigations from bag to 
bag, we found sugar plenty, and a little bag of rice, a part 
of which we immediately appropriated to the benefit of our 
turkey-stew, during this time simmering over the fire ; but 
on opening the captain's mess-chest we found a prize, a pa- 



SUPPER. 65 

per of ground pepper, and a bag of flour. We rendered our 
thanks for the captain's provident care, but he was too far 
off to hear us ; nor would he have been much obliged to us 
if he had known it. 

Our stew was progressing finely ; Carr, a short thick set 
man,with a keen eye and quick look, one of the guard, acted 
as cook ; he carried on with his cooking an interesting account 
of his learning how to do it, when he was a Sac Indian ; he 
said, he was adopted into the tribe of Sacs and Foxes ; had a 
young squaw given him for a wife ; lived with them nearly 
two years ; went on a trapping expedition, with a party of 
those indians, in the country of the Winnebagoes ; was 
surprised by these, who killed and scalped three of the Sacs, 
and the rest seeing themselves far outnumbered, ran away, 
up along the wooded bank of the small lake at which they 
had been trapping ; but, unluckily for him, he had cut his 
foot, the night before, with a hatchet, while making a paddle 
for a canoe, and could not run very fast ; he endeavored to 
escape by taking up a ravine, running from the lake, but he 
was pursued by a Winnebago, whom he had seen kill one 
of the Sacs. He turned and fired at his antagonist, but 
missed him; he then sprang behind a small tree, to load; he 
saw the Indian raise his rifle, and take a steady aim, and he 
endeavored to compress himself behind the tree, but it was 

too small; his right shoulder projected, here Carr, talking 

a spoonful of the turkey stew, tasted it, and pronounced it 
done, and first rate, and taking it off", we went at it in a 
hurry. After which, for it was late at night, and we were 
tired, we spread out our blankets and were soon asleep. 

As for the tale, it never was finished. In the morning, af- 
ter another pull at the mess bags, for breakfast, we rolled on, 
and at ten o'clock we came to the last night's encampment 
of the regiment. The fires had mouldered down in beds of 
coals; we stopped a little while, and again pushed on. We 
called at the next house, got some milk, but could get no 
bread ; the Avoman told us that they had to send thirty miles 
to mill — a horse mill, at that ; fifty miles, in another direc- 
tion, to a blacksmith's shop ; forty miles to the nearest post- 
5 



€6 UPSHUR COUNTY. 

office, and seventy-five miles to a store, for sugar, cofiee, cal- 
ico; and not even a paper of pins, or a spool of thread, could 
be got under that distance. Yet her house is fixed upon as 
the county-seat of Upshur county ; and on the following 
Monday, the first court was to be held there ; — great court- 
house, — one log-room, about sixteen feet square, and eight feet 
pitch, was all, and that had a bed in it. Leaving this, we 
rode on, overtook the wagon, and, by steady traveling, got 
into camp at sunset.* 



* Very happy was our company to see us come with the desired wagon. Their appe- 
tites were sharp, from long fasting, and they immediately commenced preparations for 
supper. The camp we found in an excellent situation, on the side of a large hill, at the 
foot of which was a fine spring, and near that the rude residence of as savage and un- 
couth a family of whites, as could be found on the continent of America. The scowling 
countenance of the rough-garbed men, showed them fit for robbers or murderers. The 
women, and there were several, had torn and dirty dresses, dishevelled hair, wild appear- 
ance, rude and insolent manners. They had long been resident in this section, and, as the 
author learned the following morning, held no intercourse with their neighbors — made long 
excursions, off no one knew where — lived in plenty, in their rude style, with money enough, 
and no one knew how they obtained it; — were open advocates of Mexican government, 
and avowed friends to Santa Anna. On the next morning, Tuesday, September 1st, the 
author was again obliged to fall behind the regiment ; being ordered to take charge of three 
sick men, unable to ride. The regiment formed, aud left. He endeavored to obtain admit- 
tance, for his sick, into the liouses mentioned, representing to the half-savage men and women, 
the state of the soldiers ; but he might as well have endeavored to excite feelings of com- 
passion and benevolence in a den of wolves. Though the men were quite ill, two burning 
with high fevers, they were obliged to mount their horses, and go on, about four miles, to 
the next settler's house. We found him a Tennesseean ; a man of feeling, who accommo- 
dated the sick ones, for several days, to the best of his ability. He informed us of the cha- 
racter of his rough neighbors. 



CHAPTER II. 

We did not again reach the regiment until the follow- 
ing Tuesday, the 8th of September ; during which time it 
had marched out of the county of Upshur, and through 
those of Rush, Smith and Cherokee; crossing the Sabine river 
the day upon which we were left. Two of the sick ones got 
better the day following, and went on ; the other was quite 
sick several days, but then became able to ride. We crossed 
the Sabine on the 5th, and rode some thirty miles, stopping 
at night at a rough shanty, where we found four men of 
the Kentucky cavalry, who had been sick. They appeared 
to be in no hurry to get up with their regiment, which 
must have been then two hundred miles ahead. We left 
there early on the morning of the 6th, and rode near forty 
miles, stopping at night in Cherokee county, at the house 
of an old settler, whose name was Branton. Here we were 
joined by six more of the regiment, who had remained be- 
hind sick. We fared well that night. Branton M-as appa- 
rently wealthy, and lived in comfort. The section of coun- 
try in which he resided, was, by far, of the best lands that we 
have seen since we have been on the march : much of it is 
of the fertile red soil, called, in distinction, the red lands. 
There are a few small prairies of two or three hundred acres 
each ; the soil of these is black and very fertile. The water 
is good and abundant ; timber plentiful. 

We had been informed that in the more southern and 
western parts of Texas, timber was scarce ; but a better 
farming country than this, one would hardly ask. The near- 
est navigation to Cherokee county on the west, is the Trin- 

(67) 



68 BRANTON'S. 

ity river, seventy miles distant ; on the east, Red rivei at 
Slirevesport, one hundred and twenty-five miles. 

Our horses being well fed, the next morning were in line 
condition to travel. It had rained a little during the night, 
and there was no dust to annoy us. As this day proved af- 
terwards " a day of days," not to be forgotten by any member 
of the Tennessee cavalry, any one of whom will now, if the 
"rainy day" is mentioned to him, shrug his shoulders at 
the thought of it, the description is given, as written that 
evening. 

After a good breakfast, hot coffee, milk, chickens, fine ham, 
eggs and potatoes, and most excellent biscuit, we called for 
our bill, and were surprised to find ourselves charged only 
seventy-five cents each for man and horse. Our horses were 
brought out in perfect trim, and we shook our old friend 
Branton by the hand, and set out for the regiment, which 
had camped that night twenty miles ahead, and was to go 
this day twenty miles further ; as a traveler who had come 
by it informed us. We wishedtogo on the whole forty miles, 
and be in camp at night, for it became unpleasant to be so 
far in the rear. The man who had been sick thought he 
would be able to ride it, and we struck out at a brisk pace. 

The morning was cool and cloudy, pleasant for riding. 
As we went on, full of life and sport, our attention was con- 
tinually attracted by the beauty of the country and the fer- 
tility of the soil, and our surprise excited that it should be 
so thinly settled. Small prairies and timbered swells of 
land succeeded each other in infinite variety. Branton had 
informed us that, though the lands were fine, timber 
plenty, and water abundant, it was very thinly settled, so 
much so, that Ave should pass but one house (four miles from 
' his) for thirty-three miles ; one more, he said, was near the 
camp of the regiment for that night, some twenty miles 
ahead, but that we should not see it from the road. 

When we came, to the house at four miles, we stopped a 
few moments, and then rode on. After going a half mile 
further, the sky very rapidly darkened, and seemed to hang 
low above us. It was a subject of remark, and we expected 



THE "RAINY DAY." 69 

another shower. Soon it began to rain a little, and there 
was a strange stillness in the dark, murky air. We drew on 
our blanket coats and blankets, looking for it to hold up 
shortly, in the meantime adding to our speed a little. The 
rain steadily increased, until it appeared to pour down in in- 
numerable streams, perpendicularly and constantly, like the 
streams of water in a shower bath; the darkness was still 
deeper. In a half hour more the wind rose, without lessen- 
ing the torrents of water ; and it became more uncomforta- 
ble from the rain being driven with such force. We hoped 
that such a deluge would soon exhaust itself, but we were 
mistaken ; it continually increased. This was the first 
scene. 

The wind still rose in power, and blew directly in our 
faces with great strength ; the streams of Avater borne by 
it came upon us in an oblique direction. It now became 
very difficult for our horses to make much progress against 
it ; they reduced their speed to a walk, and we would not 
urge them faster. We expected, however, that it would 
shortly be done, and that the black heavens would clear 
away. But it was not so : the wind increased in violence still, 
and swept across the prairies with irresistible force, leveling 
the long grass to the earth, and beating it down beneath the 
weight of the torrents ; it rushed into the mighty oaks on the 
points of the timber, as they ended on the prairies, broke 
and tore off the stoutest limbs and branches, throwing them 
into the air with such power as the Mdiirlwind only uses. 
The smaller branches, stripped and tore like feathers from the 
trunks, fell around, over, and upon us; filled the road and co- 
vered the ground. The rain, instead of diminishing at all, 
increased in quantity, and beat against us with such force 
that it required the exercise of much strength to keep our 
saddles, and our horses with great exertion progressed 
against it. 

Yet on, then, we must go. Trees were blocking the road, 
falling before and behind us, so near by, and such was the 
terror of our horses, that, trembling in every limb, they some- 
times, for a moment, refused to proceed. Still, slowly and 



70 THE "RAINY DAY." 

silently we went on, each man with his head bent down, his 
blanket drawn closely around him, urging his horse onward, 
both horse and rider leaning to the powerful blasts as they 
swept by. 

Not a moment did the storm abate its strength ; not a 
moment did the torrents of rain lessen in quantity. The ac- 
cumulated water rushed down the sides of the hills, not in 
rivulets only, but apparently in broken sheets. The prairies 
between them were unable to take it off, and held it dammed 
up by the grass, and they were turned, for the time, into shal- 
low lakes. The protections that we had drawn on Avere fu- 
tile and useless, for, driven by the force of the hurricane, the 
water oozed in streams through every thread. 

Still, wading through the water in the prairies, and with 
difficulty crossing the furious torrents in the face of such a 
blast, we slowly proceeded. The storm raged in all its 
fury. — Hour after hour, we continued to hope that it would 
soon spend its force ; but hour after hour it still remained 
unabated. 

After a long and tedious ride, cold, wet, hungry, and 
exhausted, we arrived at the camping ground that had been 
occupied the last night by the regiment. Not a soul was 
there. — We could not see more than a dozen yards or so, 
around, on account of the streams descending being blown 
into mist in our faces, by the powerful, irregular surges of 
wind. We should not have known the encampment, but 
for the corn, shucks, and fodder, borne by the rushing water 
down by our horses' feet, catching and drifting against 
the fallen trees, that were now across the road in every 
direction. No shelter could we find ; we did not know 
where to look for the house that was in the neighbor- 
hood of this encampment. It was folly to stay a moment 
in the timber, where the large branches were cracking, 
broken off, and falling around, and we moved on. Our 
horses now w'cre much fatigued — Not a word had been 
spoken for hours, by any one of the party — The storm, 
for a fe"W moments, lulled its strength, and the rain seemed 
to abate, so that we could hear the rushing torrents around 



THE "RAINY DAY." 71 

US on the hills, and for a few moments could see farther than 
before. Every one raised his head to look, but the sight was 
not pleasant : the sky was darker than ever ; the outline of 
no cloud could be seen : but the whole seemed drawn down 
closely over and around us, in mist and blackness, so near 
that the tall, stout pines, in which we now entered on the 
hills, seemed to touch the murky darkness above. 

The hurricane was but rousing its energies ; and, with the 
darkness suddenly increasing, it burst upon us with intensity 
doubled ; with force and appearance that cannot be de- 
scribed. The tall, heavy pines bent above us far over, return- 
ed, bent again before the blast ; many of them, unable to 
stand against it, fell, one after another, before it ; so heavy 
their trunks, we could hear the crash of the fall above the 
storm. Our horses, as it were, leaned against the wind and 
rain; stopped, pushed, and stopped again. If, now, they 
stepped one foot out of the beaten track, they sunk to their 
shoulders in the earth, so soft had the soil become, to the depth 
of three feet or more, from the deluge of water that for eight 
hours had been pouring upon its peculiar strata. 

The tornado continued unabated, but was blowing now 
from nearly south, having changed to an opposite course 
from that at which it commenced. Another long, long 
hour it was the same, and we arriv.ed at a creek, but now 
an overwhelming torrent, carrying before it with resist- 
less fury the largest trees, tore up by the roots, whirling them 
by with a rush and sound that was frightful to look upon . But 
what was to be done. With great exertions we made our- 
selves heard by one another, and our situation was such that 
all were for swimming. We plunged in : the first gained 
the other bank ; the second M^as swept, horse and rider, 
down the torrent ; the third was going down also, but threw 
himself off his horse and let him go, and grasping a log that 
was caught, got over. The author's horse, by desperate 
exertions, held his way, was struck by a floating log, and 
turned quite round; but, recovering, he came over. The 
others, by watching their time, and seeing the safer place by 
our passage, crossed better. The horse of the second, that had 



•72 "THE RAINY DAY." 

been swept down the torrent, was caught against a partly- 
fallen tree ; the rider got out, and, by the assistance of the 
rest, he extricated the horse, who swam ashore ; fortunately, 
the horse of the third saved himself. Not a word, all this 
time, since the passage commenced, had been spoken. 

The storm began to abate then quite perceptibly. To our 
joy, we saw the house that we had been told of. We got to 
it, and, exhausted, stripped our horses, and sheltered our- 
selves under its roof; and never did men feel more relieved. 
"We found, here, many men that had returned from the ranks 
of the passing regiment, and housed themselves from the 
force of the furious tempest. 

Mr. Abel, the proprietor, informed us that the regiment 
had got through the tall timber and crossed the creek, and 
liad passed his house early in the morning, before the hurri- 
cane came on ; and stated that this had been the most ter- 
rific day that had been experienced during his residence here, 
which had been some eighteen years. 

It continued to rain at intervals, quite hard, not ceasing 
until late at night. Abel thought that the regiment must be 
in a very disagreeable situation, for he said that the ground 
of this section, during a heavy rain, became so miry that it 
would be impossible for the wagons to get up to the encamp- 
ment, which was about nine miles distant, on the Angeline 
river. He accommodated us as well as he could during the 
night. We lay on the floor, in our wet clothes, and, being 
so very tired, slept well ; and in the morning, after an early 
breakfast, we set off for the regiment. 

This morning was clear and pleasant ; the road was set- 
tled and firm. We soon came within five miles of the river, 
where we found a wagon mired down ; a little farther, an- 
other, and another ; and finally almost every one, some just 
getting out, some going along to camp. From the teamsters 
•we learned that only a few of the wagons succeeded in get- 
ting to camp last night ; consequently, the regiment were 
forced, in the heavy rain, to be without tents or food. After 
being in such a storm all day, it was hard to be obliged to 
sleep in it at night, and fasting besides ; but so it was, and, 



THE "RAINY DAY." 78 

as we afterwards learned, having no fires, on account of the 
rain.* 

We came near the camp, which, though we could not see 
on account of the thick bushes, we could hear plainly. A 
strange, confused murmur came from it, very unlike the com- 
mon busy but still encampment. We rode in, and a curious 
scene was before us. A noisy, confused, dirty, muddy mul- 
titude of men, horses and wagons was on the hill, from the 
creek up, — crowded and so mingled that there was not the 
slightest order or discipline, nor the least indication of it. — 
The ground was worked up into deep, stiff mud, precisely fit 
for making the whole encampment into a vast brick-yard, 
and all the men looked as though they had been at work in 
such a place. — Mud was on their faces ; — their clothes were 
caked with it ; — officers' uniforms were covered with it ; — 
— horses all dirty and yellow with the same; — wagons 
bedaubed and spattered over, and harness and all things 
else in the same predicament. 

Disorder reigned supreme. — At the foot of the hill, the An- 
geline river, raised to an overwhelming rapid torrent, bore 
every thing before it on its muddy waters, and effectually 
prohibited any further passage until it should subside. 

On the higher part of the hill, among the crowd, and over- 
looking all. If stopped my horse, and gazed with astonish- 
ment arojind and below me. To dismount would have been 
to stand to my knees in mud, neither was there a dry place, 
that I could see. In front of me were the carbines, pistols, 
swords, saddles, bridles, and baggage, perhaps of thirty men, 
— all in the mud, — some covered with it ; — horses were 
crowded around, stamping more in the same. — Close to the 
Jiorses' heels was a fire, lately built, at w^hich twenty or more 

' * This had been a terrible day; no one in the regiment could call to mind the experience 
• of any such one before it. Many readers will remember its occurrence from the loss of 
the steam ship New York ; which was totally broken to pieces, by the violence of the gale 
and sea, and sunk at her anchors, far out from land: eighteen lives lost. The regiment was 
near the centre of the range of the hurricane, as it passed over Texas. 

t The reader will excuse the frequent occurrence of the egotistical pronoun, •'!," in this 
scene, and also the same on page 171, as those accounts cannot easily be given, without 
its use 



74 THE "RAINY DAY." 

men were croAvded round, trying to cook something to eat,, 
for the company wagons were just coming up, and I found 
that three-fourths of the regiment had had nothing to eat since 
the morning before ; — had traveled yesterday in the storm all 
the day, and slept in the rain and mud all the night; — all 
hungry. — Others were endeavoring to dry themselves and 
their wet and muddy clothing, taken from their saddle-bags, 
by hanging the articles around the fire. 

— Of the men, there was not a half dozen of any one com- 
pany at one fire ; — they were of all the companies mingled. 
All were noisy; all muddy; all hungry; some intoxicated; 
every one looked as though he had been so. — Fires were 
lighted around, every where, where. space could be found, 
to the right, front, rear, and left, surrounded by the same dis- 
orderly, noisy groups, the same piles of arms and baggage, 
stamped in the mire : here a carbine, there a sword ; here a 
saddle, there a blanket. 

I saw Lieutenant-colonel Allison sitting on his horse near 
me, with a troubled countenance, surveying the scene. 
From the whole ground came up, and intermingled a great 
variety of sounds ; — of many quarreling and threatening, — 
scores cursing bitterly and loudly, — of many more laughing in 
drunken mirth, — of hundreds more, stamping to and fro in the 
mud, hunting for other persons, and for articles lost, and call- 
ing loudly out for them ; — of wagoners yelling and cursing 
at their teams, in their endeavors to get them through the 
crowd, and the mud. Such a variety, so intermingled, made 
a perfect Babel of noise, and confusion. Near me were five 
men in the mud, asleep; one of them I saw belonged to our 
own company. I called loudly to him, again, and again. Un- 
der the combined influence of fatigue, hunger, and liquor, he 
was soundly asleep, and an earthquake would hardly have 
awakened him. I kept my position ; to move round in the 
confusion was of no avail, and for some time I gazed on the 
scene. I suddenly saw Sergeant Hovey of my company in the 
busy crowd, and succeeded in making him hear me, after 
many efforts, and he came towards me, glad to see me again; 
--■directed me to follow him to a place, where I could get down 



THE "RAINY DAY." 75 

clear of mud ; my horse with difficulty was able to get along 
through the crowded confusion, and every step went deep 
in the mire, till about the distance of two hundred yards, 
Hovey led me to a log, where I got off. — " Did you ever see 
the like ?" said he. "I never did," replied I, " what does it all 
mean?" — "I will tell you the whole presently, for I 
see that it will be some time before we can get away from 
here ; but tie your horse to the root of that log, where he nov,^ 
stands ; the mud is deep, but it is deeper all around, and I will 
get him a bundle of the fodder, that I put into this thick bush 
last night, to keep the rain off my face." — This he did, and 
sitting down at the end of the log, where he had a fire in the 
morning, he commenced. — " That terrible storm yesterday 
was the cause of all this. We left camp in the morning very 
early, and came into that tall pine timber, you saw this side, 
before it rained at all, and then it rained gently for some- 
time. We came through that and crossed a deep dry branch 
near to Abel's house, back here a few miles, before the storm 
come down on us ; but when it did come, it came a whirling ; 
blew, — Oh ! Crockett ! it took both hands to hold your hair 
on ! — and rain, — well, now, it did some of the tallest kind of 
raining ! — it appeared as though it was never going to 
stop. — The bungs must have been out of the hogsheads up 
above, for it did not come in drops, but just poured down in 
the biggest sort of streams. The men were all soaked 
through, but laughed at that. — It became very muddy ; — the 
wagons began to stick. If one stopped, and another tried to 
pass it, it mired right down. — If your horse stepped off the 
road a foot, he would mire down ; many of the men were 
mired down at the same time. The wagons at last all 
stuck, but one or two, and when we got up here, we found 
the corn and fodder hauled here the day before, and that was 
all. The men hitched their horses, and fed them ; but could 
not make any fires, for the rain put them out, and we had to 
take it, as it come. We would not have cared for supper, if 
we could have got the tents. We doubled ourselves up, and 
sat on the ground, with our blankets over our heads, and 
took the rain. Some of the men suffered a great deal. It 



76 THE "RAINY DAY." 

was soon found out, that there were two barrels of liquor 
over the creek, at that little shanty you see yonder ; and 
every man that could raise a dime, got a half pint, and some 
a quart, and those who had no money had plenty of liquor 
given them by others ; every one drank ; but all were so 
cold and wet, and exhausted, that the liquor did not ope- 
rate quickly ; and they drank again and again ; as the rain 
poured down, on the outside, they turned the liquor down on 
the inside ; it was, to them, rest, supper, and shelter ; and 
all hands, before long, were drunk ; — every body was drunk, 
last night ; — as I heard the Colonel say this morning that 
out of the thousand men, teamsters and all, in the regiment, 
there were eleven hundred intoxicated. 

— " The ground became so soft, that the horses mired down 
where we had hitched them ; and the halters had to be cut ; 
and most of the horses were loose all night ; hundreds were 
plunging and floundering about among us in the rain, and 
darkness ; — the men were whooping and yelling, like Indians, 
all night ; and have got mixed up, and are not sober yet ; so 
that nothing can be done. Those that slept at all, did so 
in the mud and rain, overpowered by liquor ; but, till day- 
light, there was not much sleep ; everybody was moving, till 

you see how worked up the ground is " " Well, Hovey, 

were the field officers 'tight,' too?" " Why, I don't know ; I 
did not see them; — never heard they were; — but I did not see 
anybody that was sober, at twelve o'clock last night ; neither 
have I heard of anybody that was ; — should like to see the 
man that was so. For my part, I did not drink any, at first; 
but I got so very cold, and chilly, that I commenced, too ; I 
was the most sober man I saw, and I could hardly navigate ; — 
I tell you, there was nobody that I saw, sober, in the rain 
and mire. — As for the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major, 
they fared as badly as any of us — shouldn't wonder, if they 
were as ' tight ;' — don't know, though ; — can't see how they 

could avoid it " " Well, Hovey, where is our company ?" 

"Where ail of the companies are — everywhere — over the 
whole ground — mixed up wherever a man could get — no two 
of tliem together." " "Where are the officers ?" " Don't know 



THE "RAINY DAY." 77 

that, either ; — I tried to sleep, right here, and put this fodder 
over my face, and didn't look out for anything else ; — feel 
very bad, this morning, — must see if there is anything left 
in the canteen." — He looked, and found quite a supply; and 
taking a hearty draught, he handed the canteen to another 
who came in a like situation. 

The torrent, in a few hours, fell considerably, and the 
wagons were enabled to cross ; the men became sober ; 
picked up all their arms and baggage, and all crossed ; went 
three miles, and camped in order ; every man found his com- 
pany; all, that evening, was again regularity and discipline. 
So ends the imperfect story of the "rainy day." A descrip- 
tion cannot do it justice ; but, to every officer and soldier of 
the regiment, the recollection of it will always be distinct. 
The encampment, that night, was on the ground formerly 
occupied by Bowles, the Cherokee chief; who, with a portion 
of his tribe, claimed and occupied this fine section of coun- 
try, in area about three hundred leagues ; but they were dis- 
possessed of it by the Texan government. Colonel Thomas 
purchased the corn, growing on Bowles' old field ; now cul- 
tivated by a rough-looking chap, who has been here since 
the departure of the Indians. Each man was put to gather- 
ing his own corn. 

Wednesday, September 9th. All, last night, slept soundly; 
and this morning, the bugles sounded early ; every one turned 
out ; the lines were formed, the rolls called, and all answered 
to their names ; the breakfasts were soon over, tents struck, 
wagons loaded, and the columns formed, and went on. The 
morning was clear and pleasant ; the face of the country 
over which we marched, was beautiful, being woodland and 
prairies, alternately. Many herds of cattle, fat and sleek, 
were grazing upon these. We were now traveling on the 
old established Spanish, or Mexican road, from Nacogdoches 
to San Antonio. The land had been continually improving, 
from the Sabine river, and here was first-rate. This morn- 
ing, we passed as fine lands as could be wished. 

We entered the bottom lands, bordering on the Neclies 
river, at nine o'clock, A. M. We found the river very high, 



78 CROCKETT. 

and the bottom overflowed ; we were occupied all that day 
and night, and most of the next day, in getting across ; there 
being but one flat, and that capable of carrying but eight 
horses, with their riders, at a time ; and not making more 
than from three to four trips an hour. Each company, as it 
crossed, went on by itself, eighteen miles, to the next en- 
campment, near the town of Crockett, and awaited the 
coming of the whole regiment ; the last of which did not 
come up until the evening of the 10th instant. 

Friday, September llih. The regiment marched on, fifteen 
miles, to the next encampment ; where it was to remain for 
two or three days, while the v/agon-train went on to Rob- 
bins' Ferr)^ on the Trinity river distant thirty-three miles 
from Crockett, to take in a supply of provisions from 
the depot there. Our own company were compelled to re- 
main at this place, for another day or two, on account of our 
wagon having again been broken down ; for we had the for- 
tune to have a driver who could strike every tree, on either 
side of the road, with the wheels, and never miss one. The 
wagon, however, suflJered some heavy thumps from these, 
and occasionally, that is, once a week, on an average, broke 
down, and detained either the whole company, or part; 
though, on such a march as this, it is much the best, for a 
company to halt with its broken wagon ; for it contains the 
tents and provisions ; and if it should not be repaired, until 
night, the company has shelter and food ; which would not 
be the case, if they had left it. 

Crockett is situated nearly in the centre of the county of 
Houston, about midway between the Neches river on the 
east, and the Trinity on the west. The lands in this county 
are good ; better on the eastern side, near the Neches, than 
in the centre or western parts, where the soil is rather too 
sandy for fertility. The western part has the advantage, 
however, of the navigable river, Trinity^ in its neighbor- 
hood. The town of Crockett, itself, has nothing in or around 
it, of interest, save its name ; given in honor of David 
Crockett, of Tennessee, who fell bravely fighting in the 
cause of Texas, at the " Alamo." Li the portico of the only 



OLD BELL. 79 

tavern in the place, was one relic of olden times ; this was a 
bell, corroded and broken, that had lately been found in a 
lake, in a most desolate spot, a few miles from the town. It 
was of Spanish manufacture, made in 1690, and weighed, 
probably, about two hundred pounds, when new ; not so 
much now, however, for some parts of its composition had 
yielded to the corroding action of the water of the lake, and 
it was eaten by rust, almost to the appearance of a honey- 
comb. It had upon it the Catholic cross ; and probably had 
been used by the first adventurers or settlers, in these lands, 
to aid in the work of converting the savages; but no trace, we 
understood, has been found in this part of the country, of any 
former permanent settlement. How, therefore, it had been 
used, or when or how it found its resting-place in the lake, 
is unknown. It is a curious old object, and its history, could 
it be known, would undoubtedly be one of interest. Quite a 
change had taken place, in this country, from the time of its 
submersion in the still waters of that lake, to the period of 
its again being brought to light. The thoughtful mind could 
find subject-matter, in the contemplation of this old bell, 
for many hours of interest. 

September 12th. We had been detained two days, on ac- 
count of our wagon ; and this morning, all being ready, we 
set out to overtake the regiment; still encamped fifteen 
miles this side of the Trinity river ; which we easily accom- 
plished by noon, and again our tents were up with the 
others. Two large springs supplied the whole regiment 
with abundance of water ; and we had any quantity of for- 
age, provided from the depot at Robbins' Ferry, and full ra- 
tions of provisions. We spent two days, yet, after our com- 
pany arrived at this encampment, making four days for the 
regiment, in all; during this time the wagon-train were on 
at the ferry, taking in their loads of bread, pork, flour, 
&c., &c. 

The immediate section of country, about thid encampment, 
is poor ; all, or nearly so, timbered. There was a great 
quantity of petrified wood lying around ; large branches, and 
-svhole trunks of trees were thus petrified ; the largest of 



80 PETRIFIED TIMBER. 

which, that we saw, was a hickory, about two feet and a 
half in diameter. These specimens of petrifaction were as 
perfect as we had ever seen ; we thought more so ; for the bark 
and wood not only retained their peculiar texture, but even 
their color ; so perfect Avas the bark, when taken off, in color, 
(black and rough without, white and smooth within), that, 
at the distance of two or three feet from the eye, it could 
not be told from a piece of true bark; nothing but the weight, 
when taken into the hand, made known the illusion ; on ex- 
amination, it was found as hard as flint. The petrifaction 
of the wood was equally perfect. We secured several fine 
specimens of it; but, reflecting that we were going out from 
home for many months, and that we could not preserve them, 
we reluctantly threw them away. Immense quantities of 
this petrified wood, lay through this section, on high lands, 
of a sandy nature. The inhabitants here, who visited our 
encampment, in relation to these petrifactions, told us, that 
two miles from camp there was a petrified trunk of a hickory 
still standing ! and like these, of perfect stone. We thought 
this rather improbable ; but they asserted it, and offered to 
guide us to it ; but it was too late then, being in the evening, 
and we were to be off" in the morning. Several of them 
asserted the same, in answer to our inquiries, unknown to 
each other. But this must have been a "quiz." 

Monday, September 14th. This morning, our company were 
early roused; being the advance of the regiment. To-day, 
we were minus one lieutenant. Wheat, the second assistant, 
who has been sent to Houston, sixty miles to the south, for 
medicine, the hospital stores giving out. 

Six companies of the regiment marched to Robbins' 
Ferry ; the other four to Clark's Ferry, four miles lower down 
the river; and, by so doing, the crossing of the river was 
much facilitated. We passed to the north again, to the old 
San Antonio road, which we had left a day or two before, 
and marched fifteen miles to Robbins'. The morning was 
pleasant, and the country beautiful, but not very fertile. 
Quantities of petrified wood, in blocks, large trunks, and 
small pieces, were on and near the road. Six miles east of 



ROBBINS' FERRY. 81 

the ferry we found a block-house, probably built in the In- 
dian or Mexican wars, strongly constructed of logs, closely 
fitted, the upper story projecting about two feet, on either 
side and end, over the lower. It had one strong door; loop- 
holes were around, above, and below, for the use of the rifle. 
It is but a short time since these defences Avere necessary, 
throughout this country ; but now, no enemy makes his ap- 
pearance, so far in the settlements. Another mile from the 
block-house, brought us through the timber, to the opening 
of an extensive, level prairie, of rich, black soil, covered 
with a most luxuriant growth of tall, rank gamma grass ; — 
coarse leaves, presenting to the eye the appearance of an 
immense field of millet. 

This prairie must contain from six to eight thousand 
acres ; is overflown by the rises of the Trinity, and it would 
make splendid rice plantations. Not a flower was upon it ; 
it was one unbroken, waving sea of green. A nan-ow skirt 
of timber, along the Trinity river, separated it from the prai- 
rie ; through this strip we passed, and immediately com- 
menced the crossing of the river in flats ; twelve horses and 
men at a time ; and as we crossed, encamped a little below 
the ferry, on the opposite side. In a few hours, all were 
over, and the other column, from Clark's Ferry, had come 
up also. 

The encampment was in a pretty, extensive grove of tim- 
ber, shady and cool. Robbins' Ferry, on the Trinity river, 
to which we had so long been looking forward, and wishing 
to arrive at, w^e found to be not much of a place, when we 
had got to it. One house, one store, and two warehouses, 
were all the buildings there. The family residing here, 
looked like walking skeletons, so w^an, so thin ; their eyes 
were sunken, their cheeks drawn in ; a miserable, sickly set. 
There is no water here fit to use ; the river water is the best, 
but that is bad to the taste, and not wholesome. At the store, 
there was plenty of whisky; and although most of the men 
did not M^sh any, having had enough on the " rainy day" to 
last them for some time yet, still many took hold of it freely; 
and the natural result soon followed — quarreling and con- 
C 



82 TRINITY RIVER. 

fusion. A row was quickly " kicked up," in which one man 
stabbed another dangerously. This put an end to it. 

Though the Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of cavalry 
had, each, taken large supplies from the depot of government 
stores here, and our train ol' wagons had been filled up com- 
pletely, yet a vast quantity of provisions was left. This was the 
case also at Fulton. No one of the three regiments, which 
had been ordered to march, by this route, to the seat of war, 
could complain of want of provident care in the government, 
in furnishing supplies ; for these were abundant ; more than 
we needed, and of excellent quality. 

The Trinity river is here only about sixty yards wide ; but 
from twelve to fourteen feet deep. Its banks are high, broken, 
and steep ; of clay entirely. It has a sluggish current ; is of 
a dark, muddy color, and, although now low, sometimes rises 
over the high banks, and like a sea, overflows the adjoining 
prairies. It carries not, however, through its course, the 
depth of water mentioned, being, some miles below the ferry, 
quite shallow. 

Tuesday, September 15th. We were on the march at an 
early hour ; the morning was fine, and we were soon out in 
a beautiful, rolling prairie ; extensive views of gentle hills, 
covered with long grass, dotted in the distance with small 
groves, met our vision before and on either side of us. When 
we rose out of the bottom land of the river, upon the first 
swell we came to, was an old mansion, formerly of a Mexi- 
can " hacienda," or large farm, overlooking in its prospect 
the fine range of country below — of hill and dale, extensive 
and green. The long lines of the regiment and train were 
all in view at a glance; and they made an imposing appear- 
ance. A fine breeze blew all the day, and the march was 
easy and pleasant. Good humor and gayety prevaileo 
throughout the ranks. The fresh breeze of the prairie was 
invigorating to men and horses ; which latter bounded and 
pranced along gayly. We marched rapidly, over a fine 
natural road, and the wagon-train, finding no difficulty or 
delay, were all in camp, under a lofty grove of live oaks, by 



DESERTED PLANTATION. 8^ 

noon ; and every one had the afternoon for his own amuse- 
ment. This was sought in various ways. 

The encampment was a very pleasant one, being a natural 
square, of five or six acres, surrounded by live oaks of great 
size, and entirely covered with long Spanish moss, hanging 
from the limbs and twigs, in drooping festoons, making a 
close shade below ; beneath these trees was a deep lagoon 
of water, fresh, cool, and pleasant to the taste. Under the 
trees around the square were the lines of tents, and back of 
these the fires of each ; the grass was tall and green, and 
grouped around upon it were the soldiers, resting from the 
march. At sunset, all were, as usual, called up by the bugles, 
to form lines for evening roll call ; after which the suppers 
were disposed of, horses all attended to, and singing seemed 
to be the order of the evening, till, one by one, the lights 
were extinguished, and all were asleep ; the most preferring 
to take the thick shade outside of the tents, in the long 
grass, for their sleeping places. We left Houston county at 
the Trinity, and were, this night, in Walker. 

Wednesday, September IQth. We left the encampment at 
seven o'clock, and continued the march ; after going about 
four miles, we came to a large plantation, now in ruins. The 
rank weeds were growing up in the yard of the deserted 
house, ten feet high, showing most excellent soil. The plan- 
tation lay well ; and it bore such marks of former care and 
taste, and was now so dreary, that the universal opinion was 
expressed in the ranks, as we filed round the corner of the 
yard, that the family had been murdered. This opinion we 
found to be correct : the former owner, a man of wealth, and 
an early settler here, his wife, two daughters, and three sons^ 
small boys, had all been murdered, and the house robbed, by 
a party of Mexicans and Indians. This was five years 
since, and no one had appeared as the nearest relative, to 
claim the land or property. The very look of the place 
seemed to proclaim murder and desolation. 

In three miles more, we left Walker, and entered Grimes 
county ; the soil, losing all semblance of fertility, was thin, 
sandy, and wretchedly poor — no settlers to be found. We 



84 BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE. 

marched about fifteen miles in this sort of country, and en 
camped on a creek, where there was but little water. There 
was some game about here, and our boys, after encamping, 
went out, and returned at dark, with two or three deer and 
«ome rabbits of great size. The person who had furnished 
us our corn, and who lives a mile or two from this place, 
told us that some few wild horses yet remained in the wide 
strip of poor, bushy lands, over which we had traveled the 
most of the day. Our men were very eager to get a view of 
some of these ; but their curiosity was not to be gratified in 
that respect for some time yet. 

Thursday, September 11th. We were not in very buoyant 
spirits, this morning ; the land around us was so miserably 
poor, and vegetation so stunted, that there was no enliven- 
ing prospect ; many of the men declared, that we had passed 
through all the fine lands, and that all the rest of this country 
would be but the " fag ends." They were mistaken, how- 
ver, as it afterwards proved, for we were just coming to them. 
The morning was pleasant, and we marched on pretty well, 
considering the deep sand through which we passed ; after 
marching eight miles, we suddenly came out of the stunted 
growth of the poor land, into the most beautiful rolling 
prairies, with fine groves here and there, and tall grass, ap- 
parently undisturbed by animals, covering the rounded hills 
of such gentle height and slope, as only to be pleasing; the 
soil suddenly changed to deep loose black earth, of great 
fertility. 

The breeze, of which we had felt none in the barren un- 
dergrowth, came cooling, and refreshing, over the prairie, 
loaded with the fragrance of thousands of wild flowers, of 
brilliant colors ; as column after column emerged from the 
thicket, they were all struck with the strong contrast ; and 
the general exclamation along the ranks, was, " how beauti- 
ful !" " How far you can see !" said one ; " How green 
and fresh these rolling hills," said a second. "Look at the 
distant ones," said another, pointing to their dim blue 
outline against the horizon. " What lovely vales and 
groves," exclaimed yet another; — all looked, all admired the 



GRIMES COUNTY. 85 

scene. The swells of the prairie became higher and more 
picturesque as we advanced; we lost sight of one beautiful 
view, only to gain one more extensive and striking. The 
soil became still darker and more fertile, mixed with marl 
and shells in great quantity ; and beneath the whole was a 
bed of limestone : it must be of inexhaustible fertility. 

When we first entered Grimes county, the very name ap- 
peared poor and desolate ; but now, that name appeared to 
have a signification the ver}"" reverse. Here and there we 
came to plantations with fine growing crops of corn, cotton^ 
and some sugar cane, all flourishing. 

We turned off from the road to the right in a pictm'csque 
valley, and encamped by a clear brook, near several fine 
springs. We unsaddled our horses, fed them, collected our 
wood, and set about our evening meal. A large tan -yard was 
near by, on the opposite side of the creek, and many of the 
men went to bathe in the vats, that were filled from the 
springs. On this creek were some of the largest cedars we 
have ever seen ; cedar was abundant all around here. We 
saw that the rails for the fences were made of it. These 
will last a lifetime. 

Friday, Scpteinher 18fh. Last evening, seeing that the hill 
over which the regiment would pass this morning, was high, 
two of us obtained leave from the captain, to leave the camp 
and ascend it by daylight, and wait for the regiment to come 
on ; our motive for so doing was to obtain a view of the sur- 
rounding country in the clearness of the morning, by sunrise. 
Accordingly,by that time we were on the top, with a spy-glass, 
which we had brought with us from home, for such special oc- 
casions. The view was, as we anticipated, vast and beautiful ; 
the morning was very clear. Looking towards the east, 
was seen, immediately below, the deep valley with its long 
sloping ascents on either side ; its clear stream winding 
through, fringed with dark green groves of cedar ; through 
and about which, the long and regular lines of white tents 
were peeping ; in one part concealed, in another, row after 
row in full view; busy with life ; the numbers of little lines 
of blue curling smoke rising from it, and above uniting.. 



86 LANDSCAPE. 

floated gently off down the vale ; while the clear tones of 
the bugles, soft and mellow from distance, came up distinctly" 
to the ear. — Beyond the camp, the opposite green slope was 
dotted here and there by herds of cattle grazing, while the 
summit of the slope, with its line of oaks, through which the 
horizontal rays of the sun beamed in brightness, at the dis- 
tance of two miles, closed the view. To the south the pros- 
pect of wooded hills, gentle and long in rise, were seen one 
beyond another, with here and there a patch of prairie between 
for eight or ten miles. To the west and south-west, lay 
spread out in full view the lovely valley of the Brazos river, 
alternately prairie and woodland — prairie and woodland 
again, until a broad belt of prairie, twenty miles distant, 
unbroken in extent, bounded the vision. 

In the foreground of this view, at the distance of two 
miles, and contrasting finely with the more distant finishing 
of the picture, was the pretty, thriving village of Fanthrop. 

To the north-west, the landscape was like a map ; here, 
dark in waving lines, with timber; there, light in long strips, 
of prairie ; all intermingled in a beautiful combination, 
until the horizon was indistinct and hazy from very dis- 
tance. Hearing the bugles more plainly, we turned and 
looked again down in the valley ; the rows of tents had dis- 
appeared ; the long lines of horsemen were filing out to the 
road ; the wagons starting in the rear, and the camp was 
empty. 

Employing our time until they had ascended the hill, in 
taking another view of all around, we then left the scene with 
regret, and took our places in the ranks. 

Saturday, September Idth. This day, we marched on over 
the same splendid scenery; crossing a little valley filled with 
cedar groves, we rose the hill into the village of Fanthrop. 
We found this a brisk, lively little place ; every one seemed 
to be at work : the blacksmiths' hammer could be heard, an- 
swered by the sound of tools from other mechanics ; the 
stores were open, and doing, apparently, a brisk business. A 
large academy, for the education of youth of both sexes, had 
been just erected, and gone into successful operation. The 



WASHINGTON. 87 

regiment did not halt, but the advance were far through 
the town before the rear had come near it. 

At eleven, A. M., we entered the Brazos bottom lands, 
heavily timbered, red soil, and very fertile ; and we struck 
the left bank of the Neversot river, which the road followed 
to its junction with the Brazos, opposite to the town of 
"Washington. We commenced crossing the Brazos as soon 
as we arrived on its banks ; two companies besides our own 
passing that evening, and, proceeding directly through the 
town, encamped on the edge of the prairie beyond ; a fine 
encampment; but half a mile from the springs in the prairie, 
which were to furnish us water. The other seven compa- 
nies encamped on the eastern bank, not crossing the river 
until the following day. The evening of this day had been 
very sultry, and a thunder storm appearing about to come 
over us, we made all haste to get up our tents, which labor 
was soon accomplished. The storm, though it touched us 
not, was near enough to cool the air, and the evening w^as 
very pleasant ; and at night we slept well, only disturbed by 
the numerous packs of wolves that, attracted by the smell 
of meat, came near to us and among our horses, and, by 
their dismal howling, frightened many of these so that they 
broke loose. 

Sunday, September 20th. Early this morning. Col. Thomas 
sent an order to our company for tM^enty men, in uniform, 
with carbines and cartridge-boxes, to march into town and 
take part in the funeral of a Kentucky soldier, of the cavalry 
regiment, left sick at this place, in company with several oth- 
ers, two weeks since. The others had become better; he died 
the day before. We marched into town, halted in front of 
the house where the body lay; — then formed in the rear of the 
coffin in double file; the colonel and field officers of our regi- 
ment followed next; captains and lieutenants next; then 
privates of our own regiment; then citizens. When all was 
ready, the bugles sounded the melancholy strain of the 
" Dead March," and slowly, and with our arms reversed, we 
moved for the graveyard, distant from the town about half 
a mile. As we went through the streets, the windows and 



88 SOLDIERS BURIAL. 

doors were crowded by the inmates ; all, by their counten- 
ances, expressing sorrow for the loss of the soldier. He died 
far from his home, among strangers, by whom, however, in 
his last hours, he was carefully attended ; and then was in- 
terred with the soldier's burial. — On arriving at the grave- 
yard, the procession moved around the grave and halted. — 
Slowly the coffin was lowered into it. — We advanced, and 
fired three volleys over it ; — filled the grave; and then Avheel- 
ing, left the ground ; and marching after quick and lively 
music, returned to camp. 

The regiment were ordered out in the afternoon to divine 
service, on the edge of the prairie. The preacher, Mr. Ral- 
ston, who officiated as chaplain, took his position on the 
only log that was to be found. The colonel and field offi- 
cers, with most of the company officers, in full uniform, were 
reclining in the long grass, directly in front of him ; while 
the soldiers were seated in the same around, in a large semi- 
circle ; seats were not needed, for, by long habit, now we find 
the ground to answer every purpose. The sermon was good, 
and the listeners attentive; all joined in the singing with feel- 
ing, and every emotion seemed to be calmed by the occa- 
sion. 

The evening of the day was very pleasant. We strolled 
out on an eminence, a portion of the prairie, and surveyed 
with the glass the extensive valley of the Brazos below, and 
now in our rear — still grand and beautiful, as from the other 
side, it appeared. 

Monday, September '2\st. The colonel having ordered the 
regiment to remain here another day, we took the opportu- 
nity to examine and inquire about the town, country, &c. 
Washington is a small place of about four or five hundred 
inhabitants ; has been the seat of government, the congress 
of the republic formerly meeting here. The appearance of 
the town shows, from its many dilapidated houses, that it 
has seen better days than at present. 

It is situated on the west bank of the Brazos river, in the 
midst of as beautiful and fertile a country as can be found 
in the Union. The Brazos can be navigated by large boats 



RIDING A RAIL. . 89 

some three or four months in the year; and it is said, b}' re- 
moving the snags and logs from its bed, that small steam- 
boats could run upon it, as far up as this place, the whole 
year; though, as yet, there is not sufficient settlement of the 
country to induce boats to come up ; and all the trade of this 
place is carried on, by land, with Houston, on Buffalo Bayou, 
seventy-five miles south-east of it. But the day cannot be 
far distant, when this delightful country will be settled, and 
its resources developed. — The river, of steep and high clay 
banks, is not so muddy as the Trinity, but is brackish in 
taste and unfit for use, even for washing. — The Neversot, a 
small river that comes in opposite, is of better water. We 
noticed that this river sometimes rose thirty-five or forty feet, 
perpendicular height, the mark of the mud being on all the 
trees ; and brush, cane, and di-ift-wood lodged in their tall 
branches. 

At four, P. M., the regiment was ordered under arms, on 
foot, and marched out on the prairie, near the springs, and 
there formed in a hollow square to witness the punishment 
of two teamsters, who had stolen some carbines and other 
property, and had endeavored to make their escape ; had 
been pursued by a file of men, overtaken and brought back ; 
had been tried this forenoon by a court-martial, and sen- 
tenced to receive thirty-nine lashes each on the bare back : 
which sentence, however, was commuted, by the colonel, to 
that of riding a rail through the ranks. 

This ceremony was performed as follows : four stout men, 
two at each end of a long, rough pole, came into the square ; 
the culprits were led in, and one of them, the younger, who 
had been coaxed into the stealing by the other, was gently 
set on the pole, and as gently carried around ; all pitied him, 
for he appeared to feel the disgrace of the punishment se- 
verely, and not much noise was made as he passed on this 
high horse. He was set down, and the other was rudely 
thrown on, amidst hoots, groans and hisses ; the bearers 
jerked and shook the pole on their shoulders, and he lost his 
balance and came to the ground on his side, with a concus- 
sion that took his breath from him for a moment. He had 



90 INDEPENDENCE. 

fallen into hard hands ; they threw him up again, breath or 
no breath, and finished his unpleasant ride ; after which the 
regiment was dismissed, and the two men taken over the 
Brazos and set free, being forbidden to come again near the 
camp. 

Tuesday, Septeyyiher 22d. A fine morning. The bugles 
sounded the saddle call, after breakfast, and the captains and 
lieutenants of each company repeated the order to their men, 
to strike tents and load the wagons : all went at it, and line 
after line of tents disappeared, — save those of our company, 
which still stood, for no officer could be found. One of the 
field officers rode vip : " Is your captain here?" he inquired. 
" No, sir." " Your first lieutenant ?" " No, sir." " Tell your 
second lieutenant to have your tents struck, and fall into 
line." •' He is not here, sir." " Not here ! — What, all gone ? — 
Where is the orderly sergeant ?" " Gone too, sir !" " Well, 
tell your second sergeant to come here." " He is gone, also." 
*' Gone ! — Is there any sergeant here ?" " Yes, sir, the third 
sergeant, Hovey, is here." " Tell Sergeant Hovey to take 
command of your company, have your tents struck quickly, 
and fall into line !" " Yes, sir." 

Upon the order of the sergeant, we struck our tents in 
quick time, loaded our wagon, sent it on, saddled our horses, 
put on our equipage, formed the line, and, with the sergeant 
at our head, were off; and he had command of us for the 
whole day. It was universally remarked, that it was as 
pleasant a day's march as we had made ; — all being per- 
fectly contented with Captain Hovey, as they called him. 

We passed on over the same beautiful country, with view 
succeeding view — countless changes of the lovely landscape 
— which now was seen only five or six miles, over pretty 
vales, and gentle slopes of green, — then extended far as the 
utmost limit of vision would permit. At eight miles' dis- 
tance from the morning's camp, we came to the village of 
Independence, on the top of a lofty swell of land, command- 
ing an extensive view in every direction. This village was 
universally admired by all the men of the regiment, and is 
truly one of the prettiest places that can be pictured out. 



BRAVE BOY. 91 

A large American flag had been hoisted on the top of the hill, 
and added to the scene. The water here, too, was excellent, 
and the health fine. Many of the men declared they M^ould 
return here. 

We halted here a little while, and, at the sound of the 
bugles, again marched on, leaving the pretty place with 
regret. There was no difference in the soil or scenery, from 
before, during the remainder of the day. We encamped, 
towards evening, in a beautiful valley, four miles south of 
the Yagua river, a branch of the Brazos ; being still within the 
limits of Washington county. March of the day twenty miles. 

Here we met an old acquaintance, to many of our com- 
pany, and spent the evening and morning most agreeably; 
the change, for a meal or two, of camp fare, of salt pork and 
hard bread, for fried chickens, roast pig, fine vegetables, and 
excellent milk and butter, found at his hospitable table, was 
most agreeable. — We were now just learning the value of 
good fare, by the continued experience of the reverse. 

We found that it had been but a little while since this 
section was freed from the periodical irruptions of bands of 
Comanche Indians ; whose movements have always been 
made with such celerity, that their murders and robberies 
were committed, and they were off", before pursuit could be 
successfully made. Our friend, while speaking of this, 
directed our attention to a small boy, of about thirteen years 
of age, who was riding by in a little wagon, in company 
with his father. We observed the lad, as having a fine open 
countenance, an intelligent look, and a manly bearing : he 
passed on ; and we were told, that young as he was, he had 
been, nearly tw^o years before, in the last hard-fought skirmish 
with the Comanches. His father, with three other men, and 
himself, were together, a few miles from this spot, when 
they were attacked by a large number of these mounted war- 
riors of the western prairies. As each of the five was 
well armed, their defence was desperate, and long-continued. 
The boy, then only eleven years of age, fought and cried at 
the same time ; loading his rifle and firing, repeatedly. His 
companions had no objection to his tears, for they were not 



92 PICTURESQUE BASIN. 

of the kind to dim his sight at all ; for, as he raised his rifle,, 
he took his aim with steady nerve, and, at each shot, killed 
or wounded a Comanche. Finding such a determined resist- 
ance, after several of them had been killed, and many 
wounded, the Indians retreated ; two of the men were 
wounded; the boy was not hurt. The alarm being given in 
the settlement, the war party withdrew entirely, and have 
not been in so far since. 

Wednesday, September 2Sd. We left the encampment at an 
early hour, and marched, to-day, twenty miles. Soil same 
as before ; as rich as it well can be ; scenery the same, save 
not so much timber. Many of the men had permission to 
leave the lines, to hunt, as we now were coming to a coun- 
try of game. They killed and brought in a few deer. Some 
of it had large bones, and looked and tasted like veal ; but 
they declared it was venison. 

We encamped in a beautiful grove, about three o'clock P. 
M. after a march of twenty-two miles ; the road had been so 
good that the wagon-train had kept up in speed with the main 
body ; our tents were soon up, and our suppers cooked early. 
After supper, about a dozen of us mounted our horses and 
rode three miles over the prairie, to a basin of water, dis- 
covered by the hunters of the day, where they had killed 
an alligator, about six feet long. — The ride was very pleas- 
ant, and the basin itself, very picturesque. A stream of 
water, pure as crystal, fell over several succeeding shelves 
of limestone, covered with green moss, into the basin, itself 
scooped out of the same durable material ; this basin was 
about one hundred and fifty feet long, sixty wide, and tenor 
twelve deep, and so clear that every little thing could be 
seen at its bottom; several large live oaks spread their branches 
over it, and the long Spanish moss trailed down, making a 
canopy of shade above. This young alligator had possessed 
this basin to himself, " monarch of all he surveyed ;" but its 
clearness and beauty proved his ruin. — A singular piece of 
temerity with regard to an alligator is related in camp. At 
Sabine river, (now a long distance back), one of the men of 



ALLIGATORS. 93 

Caswel's company, called in camp " Skin-horse," went along 
the bank for game ; did not see any ; but then a young alli- 
gator popped up his head ; '' Skin-horse" fired at it, and the 
water was stained with blood, but the alligator had 
disappeared. The report of the gun brought some of his 
comrades to the spot, and they were told by him, what he 
had killed. They thought he was " fooling" them ; which made 
him very angry, and swearing that he always told the truth, 
he stripped off his clothes, and waded in the water to his 
neck, feeling about with his foot, and stepped on the chap 
at the bottom ; he being only wounded, instantly rose and 
poked his long nose out of the water, behind "Skin-horse," who 
turned, and with one hand seized him by the fore foot, and 
threw the other arm around his neck, and himself on his 
scaly back; — now came the tug of war. The alligator 
whirled round and round, making the water foam with 
his tail, snapping his jaws together, in his endeavors to get 
at his antagonist ; while the latter having got a hold on shal- 
low bottom pushed and dragged him towards the shore, 
while his companions, at first petrified with astonishment, 
ran to his relief; and they soon got the alligator ashore and 
dispatched him. He measured in length seven feet. — Hug- 
ging a live alligator in the water, is a ticklish sort of busi- 
ness.^ — "Skin-horse" is a good humored, dare-devil chap, cross- 
eyed, medium height, bony and strong, in for a scrape at any 
time, and is a great favorite with the whole regiment. 

Thursday, Septcmhci' 24th. This morning we left the en- 
campment very early, and leaving Washington county, en- 
tered that of Fayette. There being a thick fog all the morn- 
ing, we could not look out on the prairie, but was told by a 
settler, that it was of the same kind of country as that from 
Washington, passed over the last three days. We only 
marched thirteen miles, and encamped in a grove of timber, 
in a narrow strip of sandy land, inferior to the prairie. 

Now, reader, we were marching on to the seat of war, but 
were yet a long distance from it. The infantry who had gone 
by sea, and the Texas cavalry, from this section, where we now 



94 MONTEREY. 

were, had arrived there long before, and not only so, but had 
gone to work ; for on this day, Thursday, the capitulation of 
the city of Monterey, to the army of General Taylor, was 
concluded. The battle commenced on Monday, was carried 
on until this morning. In the following chapter will be 
found an account of all the proceedings with relation 
to it. 



CHAPTER III. 

Previous to this time, the army of General Taylor had 
been increased to iipwards of fifteen thousand men, by the 
arrival of the volunteer forces. The government having sent 
several steamboats to the Rio Grande, that general was ena- 
bled, M'ith but little difficulty, to take possession of the towns of 
Mier, Reynosa, and Camargo, on and near the river. Colonel 
Hays' regiment of Texan cavalry, in the meantime, had 
made a circuit from Matamoras towards the interior, through 
the towns of San Fernando, China, and other small places, 
coming out to the Rio Grande again at Camargo, at which 
place the principal part of the army was stationed, and 
where a depot of supplies had been established. 

Monterey, the capital of the state of Nueva Leon, is situ- 
ated in the mountainous regions of the Sierra Madre, the 
lofty peaks of which surround and overlook it. Its popula- 
tion is about ten thousand, and being a place of great 
strength by nature, it had been fortified with much care by 
the old Spanish government, which fortifications have been 
increased since the Mexican revolution. Its distance from 
Camargo, on the Rio Grande, is about one hundred and 
eighty miles. 

To this place, after the evacuation of Matamoras, the Mex- 
ican army under General Arista retreated, and remained ; 
that general, however, was deprived of his command, by the 
Mexican government, and General Ampudia appointed to 
the command in his place ; and the forces, in the meantime, 
were strengthened; immense quantities of munitions of war 
were thrown into the place, and it became evident that the 

(95) 



96 MONTEREY. 

enemy intended to risk the next battle in its defence, con- 
fident of success, from the largely recruited forces, the 
great natural and artificial strength of the place, and the 
abundance of supplies with which to stand a siege. As 
the intention of the American general to attack the place 
was known to General Ampudia, for many weeks previous 
to the commencement of actual operations against it, that 
officer made every exertion, to have the works in a perfect 
state of defence to resist such attempt ; and as early as the 
30th of August, before the American army had commenced 
its march from Camargo, he had issued his proclamation to 
ensure more decisive action in the defence; declaring the city 
already in a state of siege ; and encouraging his troops, by 
informing them " that of the American army, there was but 
twenty-five hundred regular troops ; that the remainder (vol- 
unteers) were only a band of adventurers, without valor or dis- 
cipline;" — (an opinion, that during the siege afterv^^ards, it is 
said, he took occasion to alter, as he saw with his glass the 
attack on the first fort, and the Tennessee and Mississippi 
regiments pouring over its walls in the face of five pieces 
of artillery, throwing a shower of grape and canister into 
their ranks ; with several more on their flank, raking them. 
He then compared their fighting to that of devils); — remark- 
ing, in his own words, that " we {i.e. the Mexicans) can beat 
them again and again." The Mexican army were in high 
spirits, in anticipation of victory; and every arrangement of 
defence having been completed, with a force of upwards of 
ten thousand, exclusive of the inhabitants, who were required 
to assist in the defence, they waited for the approach of the 
Americans. Their works were arranged in the following 
manner : 

The city lies nearly in the form of a parallelogram, its 
longest extension being east and west ; along its southern 
side runs the small river San Juan, an easterly course. High 
eminences are on the other bank of this stream ; (see Plan* 

* For this plan, showing the city and fortifications, and the position of the attacking 
forces on the morning of September 31st, the author is indebted to Lieutenant A. J. 
Ifeiman, adjutant of 1st regiment Tennessee infantry. 



MONTEREY. 97 

of Monterey, page 100); upon two of these eminences were 
strong fortifications, marked on the plan by letters M and N. 
The western or upper part of the city was defended imme- 
diately at the suburbs by the large stone cemetery, (marked 
D), converted into a fort ; its walls being pierced with em- 
brasures for cannon; — this cemetery was near the entrance of 
the Saltillo road. Further out on that road, at the distance 
of nearly a mile, were two eminences, on one of which was 
the Bishop's Palace (marked F), a strong building, well forti- 
fied ; on the other also was a strong work, (marked L) ; — ex- 
tending round the whole northern side of the city, that on 
which the American army must approach, and also part of 
the western, was a wide plain, partly cultivated, at some dis- 
tance from the city. This whole plain, for a long range, 
was completely commanded by the Cathedral fort, (marked 
G), or "Black Fort," as afterwards called by our forces ; a 
very strong fortification, and one that was not attacked af- 
terwards by them. — This fort was near the entrance of the 
Ceralvo road. 

On the east of the city, the San Juan flowed round from 
the southern side. There were three forts on this eastern 
side : the first, fort Tannerio, (marked H), on the north- 
eastern corner ; the second, fort Diablo, (marked I), to the 
south of the first ; the third, (marked J), near the Cadarita 
road, which it commanded. From this last fort, a strong 
stone wall ran around part of the southern side. 

Every principal street was barricaded with strong w^orks 
of masonry ; cannon on the most of them ; the whole num- 
ber of pieces of artillery was about fifty. Besides these for- 
tifications, another great item of strength consisted in the 
manner in which, the houses of the city were built : of close 
construction to each other ; one high story ; flat stone roof, 
with parapet walls of the same material around them, and 
with interior courts and gardens, presenting a naked view 
in the street, of continuous bare walls, of few doors, and 
still more few windows ; which, where so placed, were guar- 
ded by perpendicular iron bars. — The streets were straight 
and long, and crossed each other at right angles. — A large 
7 



98 MARCH OF THE ARMY. 

spring, and several smaller ones, were in the centre of the 
city, affording an abundant supply of fine water. 

As said before, thus prepared for attack or siege, the Mex- 
ican forces awaited the approach of the American army; nor 
were they destined to wait very long, for the first division 
of that army, under General Worth, of one thousand seven 
hundred men, (regular troops, save one hundred Texan ran- 
gers), took up the march from Camargo to Monterey on the 
20th of August, followed in a few days, and overtaken at 
Ceralvo, seventy-five miles on the route, by the division of 
General Butler, of two thousand seven hundred men, (volun- 
teers), and that of General Twiggs, of two thousand two 
hundred, (regulars, save five hundred Texan rangers,) : ma- 
king, in the whole number, six thousand six hundred men ; 
General Taylor leaving a force of ten regiments at the dif- 
ferent positions on the Rio Grande, from Brazos Santiago, at 
the mouth, to Camargo, These were the 1st, 2d and 3d regi- 
ments of Indiana infantry, the 3d and 4th regiments of Illi- 
nois do., the 2d and 3d Ohio do., the 2d Tennessee do., the 
2d Kentucky do., the Alabama do., and Georgia do. 

The volunteers that marched upon Monterey were two 
regiments of mounted Texan troops, under Colonel Hays 
and Colonel Woods ; the 1st Tennessee regiment of infantry, 
under Colonel Campbell; the 1st Kentucky do., under Colo- 
nel Ormsby ; the 1st Ohio do., under Colonel Mitchell; the 
Mississippi regiment of riflemen, under Colonel Davis ; the 
Baltimore battalion, under Colonel Watson ; one company 
of Louisiana infantry, under Captain Blanchard, and one 
company of Texas infantry, under Captain Shivers. 

From Ceralvo, the army moved onward, reaching the town 
of Marin, a place of about three thousand inhabitants, on 
the 15th of September; leaving Marin on the 18th, they ar- 
rived on Saturday, the 19th, within view of Monterey, and 
encamped at Walnut Springs, a beautiful pecan grove, where 
fine bold springs gushed out with water clear and cool. 

General Taylor, on his arrival, at the head of the Texas 
cavalry, proceeded to reconnoitre the city, and advanced for 
that purpose over the plain, directly in front of the Cathe- 



GENERAL WORTH'S DIVISION. 99 

dral fort, and at a distance of about sixteen hundred j'ards. 
A heavy fog lay over the city at first ; but, rising as he ad- 
vanced, revealed the city and works. The fort commenced 
a fire upon the detachment, and, after taking a cool view of 
the place, he left the ground ; immediately after, Major 
Mansfield, Captain Sanders, and Lieutenant Scarrit, of the en- 
gineer corps, supported by a squadron of dragoons under 
Captain Graham, and a company of Texas rangers under 
Captain Gillaspie, were ordered to reconnoitre, at which, the 
remainder of the day, they were occupied, being repeatedly 
fired upon by the batteries. 

JMot having obtained all the desired information. Lieuten- 
ant Scarrit was again, on Sunday morning, September 20th, 
sent out to the right, or western part of the city, called from 
its position, the upper part, and Lieutenant Pope to the left, 
or lower part. They finished their observations, and, though 
fired on many times, returned in safety. General Worth, 
with his division, and Colonel Hays' regiment of Texas Ran- 
gers, was ordered to proceed to the extreme right, (by a long 
circuitous bend, to avoid the fire of the Black Fort), and to 
take a position on the Saltillo road, on the extreme right, to 
intercept any supplies for the enemy, by that road, and to pre- 
vent the passage of any re-inforcements into the city, that 
being the only road by which such could come; and also to 
take the fortified heights, if practicable ; by so doing, to cut 
off the retreat of the Mexican army. On account of having 
to construct bridges, and open a road through the fields of 
corn, sugar-cane, &c., this division did not reach the Saltillo 
road until the next morning ; that night they lay on their 
arms ; it was cold and rainy. As General Worth left 
for his post, this afternoon, the other two divisions were 
marched in front of the town, and remained in view until 
night, to take off the attention of the enemy from his move- 
ments. After night, all the troops of these divisions re- 
turned to camp, save the 4th regiment of regular infantry,, 
which, under Major Allen, remained to cover and protect a. 
ten inch mortar and two twenty-four pound howitzers, which 
were placed in 'a dry ravine, on the north of the city, and 



100 GARLAND'S ATTACK. 

directly in front, fourteen hundred yards from the Black 
Fort. The next morning, Monday, September 21st, the 
troops of the two divisions of generals Butler and Twiggs, 
were marched from camp at an early hour, and were drawn 
up as represented in plate. — (See Plan.) 

General Worth moved on from the position, there indica- 
ted, with the Texan rangers, in advance, who soon encoun- 
tered a body of about one thousand lancers,* (indicated on 
the plan). Here the action of the day commenced. The 
Rangers received the attack of the lancers, — killed, in a few 
moments, forty of them, and wounded sixty more, — Col- 
onel Hays killing their lieutenant-colonel, — only two of 
the Rangers wounded. The lancers, finding such a hot recep- 
tion, retreated. About the time that this firing was heard, 
General Taylor, then on the left or lower part of the town, 
ordered the battery, established the night previous, to open 
its fire upon the city and Black Fort ; which fire was in- 
stantly returned, and kept up with spirit. — In order to favor 
the operations of General Worth, now most important, by 
drawing the attention of the enemy's forces from him, Twiggs* 
division, under the command of Colonel Garland, was or- 
dered to make a demonstration against the lower part of the 
town. To this command was attached the Baltimore bat- 
talion of volunteers. This force moved up, under a heavy 
cross-fire, from the Black Fort on the right ; (the proper name 
of this is "Fort Independence," called likewise " the Citadel," 
and also " Cathedral Fort ;" but the common name, given it 
by the American soldiers, was the " Black Fort," and so, in 
this description it will be called), and another from the left, 
from fort No. 1 ; advancing through these cross-fires with 
some loss, the command reached the edge of the town, about 
two hundred yards to the right of fort No. 1. 

In obedience to his orders, the commander of this divi- 

* These are Mexican cavalry ; each one is armed with a steel-headed lance, about 
eight feet in length, bearing a small swallow-tailed flag of green and red ; beside 
tl lis, the lancer has an escopeta, or short gun with large bore, carrying a heavy ball, 
doing execution at a long distance ; and a straight sword, commonly sharp on both, 
edges. A body of lancers makes a fine appearance. 



STORMING OF FORT NO. 1. 103 

sion, engaged the enemy by a spirited attack. The col- 
umn charged up the street, with the intention of turning to 
the left and attacking fort No. 1, in the rear; but immedi- 
ately they were placed in a most perilous situation; — before 
them was the heavy battery, at the Bridge of "Purisima,"the 
cannon of which swept the street with grape. The head of 
the column was also exposed to a fire from fort No. 2, 
(marked I), the rear,from fort No. 1 ; and to round shot from the 
Black fort ; and, added to this, the fire of a thousand muskets 
from the house-tops, where the enemy could not be reached. 

— Seeing this column in so perilous a situation. General 
Taylor ordered the Mississippi and Tennessee regiments, under 
colonels Davis and Campbell, headed by part of the 4th regi- 
ment of regular infantry, to advance to their relief; these 
proceeded under the heavy fire of the fort No. 1, and the 
Black Fort, which swept through their ranks. The fire in 
front was too severe for the regulars, who fell back from be- 
fore it ; but the two volunteer regiments, nothing daunted, 
though suffering most severely, together, in the face of the 
cannon, threw themselves upon and scaled the walls of the 
fort, pouring in with such rapidit}^ as to take several oflicers 
and thirty men prisoners, in an instant, and to turn one of 
the guns, loaded that moment with canister, upon the garri- 
son, who were running toward the next fort, stopping the 
flight of many of them. This was a most gallant charge 
and was of the greatest service, but cost the lives of many. 
To give an idea of the destructive fire through which these 
two regiments made this charge, the loss of the Tennessee 
regiment, alone, one hundred killed and wounded, in a few 
moments, out of the whole number, three hundred and 
seventy-nine, that went into action, will suffice ; but they 
hesitated not an instant. Five cannon were taken in this 
fort, and a large quantity of ammunition ; these cannon were 
immediately turned by Captain Ridgely, of the artillery, 
against the 2d fort (marked I) and the city, and they became 
a most important auxiliary to the operations. 

— While this charge was making, Captain Bragg's battery 
of light artillery came down at full gallop, exposed for half 



104 CHARGE OF LANCERS UPON FIRST OHIO. 

a mile to the full fire of the Black Fort, entered the street, 
and proceeded up to Garland's assistance ; Maj. Gen. Butler, 
with the Ohio regiment, under Col. Mitchell, leaving their 
first position, moved to reinforce that command. General 
Butler ordered another charge ; but, like the first, it was in- 
effectual ; he was wounded ; several officers and many men 
were killed and wounded, and the whole, then under General 
Hamer, withdrew from the town, and took up a position to 
the left of the fort No. 1, now taken. Upon the Ohio regi- 
ment, now under Lieut. Col. Weller, a body of lancers, under 
cover of the Black Fort, charged furiously, but were received 
with a fire which left many of their number stretched upon 
the field. They retreated ; — were reinforced to near a thou- 
sand, and again came down, but were repulsed again by 
Bragg's battery, which, taking rapidly a position under cover 
of a cornfield, unperceived by the lancers, opened a heavy 
fire, so unexpected and destructive, as to drive them back 
again with confusion into the city, in the rear of the Black 
Fort ; the battery, with that of Captain Ridgely, then took 
a position near the captured fort No. 1, where it remained 
until ordered back to camp at four, P. M. 

This fort No. 1 was now under a heavy fire from the other 
forts. The Tennessee and Mississippi regiments, and the 3d 
and 4th infantry, kept up a sharp engagement in this corner 
of the town ; the 1st Kentucky regiment, under Col. Ormsby, 
had been ordered to remain with the battery first mentioned, 
before the Black Fort, and had been the only protecting force 
of that during the day, all of which time it had continued its 
fire upon the fort and city. In the evening, the captured 
fort No. 1, and vicinity, having been more strongly entrench- 
ed in the rear by Lieut. Scarritt, was occupied by Garland's 
command, of the 1st, 2d and 4th regiments regular infantry, 
and Ridgely's battery of artillery, and also one battalion of 
the 1st Kentucky ; — the other troops were withdrawn and 
ordered back to camp. Thus ended, on this part of the city, 
the bloody and hard fought battle of the 21st. 

The dead and wounded covered the plain under the 
range of the Black fort, and lay thick before fort No. 1, 



WORTH'S OPERATIONS ON TWENTY-FIRST. 105 

mowed downin that heroic charge ; they were scattered over 
the cornfields at the edge of town ; the streets in w^hich 
Garland's command had been, were covered with slain and 
wounded ; these last, when Americans, and falling into the 
hands of the enemy, were slaughtered and barbarously man- 
gled and stripped of all their clothing. One officer, how- 
ever, that fell wounded into their hands. Captain Williams, 
was w^ell treated during the short time he lived, and dying 
the next day, he was buried by them with the honors of 
war. 

On the western side, the division of General Worth had 
acted most gallantly, and with brilliant success. After the 
fight with the lancers in the morning, the division came in 
range of the high work marked L, which opened upon them 
with shot and shell; killed Captain McKavett, of the Sth in- 
fantry, and one man, and wounded others ; and at noon, 
that marked M was stormed and taken by four hundred men, 
under Captain Smith. The fort was garrisoned by five or 
six hundred Mexican soldiers, with two nine pound cannon ; 
these retreated to the height marked N. The force here was 
about sixteen hundred, with a piece of artillery ; the fort 
was stormed and carried by the same detachment, in con- 
junction with a larger one under Brig. Gen, Smith; the 
Mexicans retreated across the valley, towards the other for- 
tification. 

After this height was taken, the Bishop's Palace opposite, 
(marked on the plan F), opened with shell and shot upon the 
assailants in fort N. This cannonading continued until 
night; and thus, with this division, ended the operations of 
the 21st instant. 

During the night, the forces of General Worth remained 
in possession of the two forts, on the heights, they had taken, 
and slept on their arms. On the lower part of the city. Col- 
onel Garland's command and Ridgely's battery occupied the 
captured fort No. I, and kept up a cannonade at intervals 
upon the city, which was answered by the Mexican batteries 
of the Black Fort, and fort No. 2 (I), and also from the smaller 
works. In the darkness, bodies of stragglers from the city 



106 BRAGG'S ARTILLERY. 

emerged on the plain, to rob the dying and dead ; the woun- 
ded survivors vrere dispatched by their knives, and all indis- 
criminately stripped. 

The dawn of day was the signal for the deadly combat 
to be renewed. — On this morning, Tuesday, the 22d, the 
troops of Taylor's force moved early from camp to the scene 
of action. General Quitman, with the Tennessee and Mis- 
sissippi regiments, marched into fort No. 1, and relieved 
Garland's command; the remainder of the force was drawn 
up to the left of the fort, manoeuvreing ; the object of this 
day's operations, in this quarter, being to divert the enemy's 
attention from those of General Worth. On this part of the 
city there was, on this account, a continual cannonading, 
by the captured fort, upon the city, assisted by the light bat- 
teries, and answered the heavy response of the Black Fort 
and other batteries of the enemy. 

Bragg's light artillery, which had suffered much the daj'' 
previous, in loss of men and horses, was stationed this day to 
keep open the communication v^^ith the camp. — This Avhole 
end of the city was, during the day, wreathed in clouds of 
smoke, from the numerous batteries ; — the enemy were kept 
in continual expectation of another assault, and thus were 
prevented from throwing more force to repel the attacks of 
General Worth. 

That officer began his operations by daylight, storming, at 
that time, the height marked L, which was the first that had, 
on the preceding daj^, fired upon his division. This fort was 
taken without much difficulty ; — the enemy, foreseeing the 
attack, had removed the cannon, during the night, down the 
eminence, to the strong fortification of the Bishop's Palace ; 
to prevent those guns from being taken and directed down 
upon that strong hold ; and to this palace they also retreated 
upon the attack of the storming party. The capture of the 
latter, F, was now likely to be a serious undertaking ; it 
could not be stormed, being too high ; and having now a 
force of two thousand men in it, with several pieces of can- 
non. The main body of the assailants was concealed from 
the view of the Mexicans, by the crest of the ridge above, 



WORTH'S OPERATIONS ON THE TWENTY-SECOND. 107 

while four companies were detached and sent rapidly forward 
to attack the palace ; these deployed separately around, 
within a short distance of the work ; every one sheltering 
himself the best he was able, behind the rocks, commenced 
firing at the garrison, picking them off as fast as possible. 
Their fire was answered by musketry and heavy cannonading, 
with canister; but no two men being together, this firing was 
thrown away. In the mean time, a twelve pound howitzer 
had been dragged up the height, L (eight hundred feet ele- 
vation), with great labor, and placed in position, opening a 
plunging fire into the palace below, with such effect from its 
shells, that the Mexicans sallied out, in a heavy body of cav- 
alry and infantry, and charged the height, to retake it. — 
Their attack was received with such a deadly fire, that the 
advance of lancers turned and fled ; the routed infantry did 
the same, in great confusion, closely followed by their as- 
sailants, who quickly entered the palace ; the artillery of 
which was turned upon the fugitives, who, running through, 
were chased and slaughtered all the way down the hill, into 
the very edge of the town. 

The palace remained in the hands of the division ; its four 
pieces of artillery were immediately turned down upon the 
work, in that end of the city ; viz., the fortified cemetery, (on 
the Plan, marked D). A great quantity of ammunition being 
captured in this palace, the firing from it, and the height 
opposite, marked N. was kept up during the rest of the 
day, and throughout the night, with such effect, from the 
well-directed balls and shells, that the Mexican troops were 
obliged to evacuate the cemetery and western part of the 
town, and retire in towards the Plaza, (marked A, on the 
Plan) ; taking the cannon from the cemetery and planting 
them at the stone barricades in the streets, to rake them for 
their whole extent. — Thus had General "Worth succeeded in 
turning all the defences on the heights at this part of the 
city, into so many points of attack. The scene now pre- 
sented from the north, or road to camp, of the city, was grand; 
— the volumes of smoke rising from the forts on the east, from 
the heavy Black Fort in front, and from the mortar battery in 



108 QUITMAN'S OPERATIONS ON TWENTY-THIRD. 

the foreground ; from the lofty heights on the west, the same 
volumes opening out and rolling away. These were accom- 
panied by the continual thunder of the artillery, and loud, 
wiry noise of the shells, before their explosions. 

Night was now approaching, and on the eastern part 
General Quitman, with the Tennessee and Mississippi regi- 
ments, remained in the captured fort, as the garrison for the 
night, ready for the operations of the next day, and the 
remainder of the troops of this division returned to camp ; 
where, tired and exhausted, they threw themselves down in 
their tents to sleep. Thus ended, on both parts of the city^ 
the battle of the 22d. 

Both parties being willing to rest from the work of de- 
struction for a space, only an irregular cannonading at inter- 
vals, was carried on during the night. In the morning, 
Wednesday the 23d, the battle commenced again in all its 
fury; — during the night, the enemy fearing an assault, had 
withdrawn the forces from the forts on the east (marked I' 
and J), taking the cannon from them, and retired a square 
or two towards the Plaza (A,) where mounting the artillery 
behind the stone barricades, (some of these twelve feet 
thick), and lining the tops of the flat roofed buildings with 
infantry, where, protected themselves, by the parapet stone 
walls, they could fire with effect into the street below, they 
determined to make a desperate resistance. — The Black Fort 
opened all its artillery upon the columns of troops advancing 
from the camp to the attack. While these were advancing 
under General Taylor, General Quitman seeing that forts I 
and J, mentioned before, were abandoned by the enemy, sent 
into the city a part of the Tennessee and of the Mississippi 
regiments, who in a few moments became hotly engaged 
with the enemy. The remainder of these two regiments were 
then ordered to reinforce them ; Colonel Woods' regiment of 
Texan rangers, dismounted, under General Henderson, and 
the third regiment of infantry followed, and a general en- 
gagement took place, which lasted without intermission un- 
til near night. Captain Ridgely from Fort No. 1. (H,) opened 
a heavy and continued fire of shot and shell, upon the city 



WORTH'S OPERATIONS ON TWENTY-THIRD. 109 

and cathedral (B) , near the Plaza; while Captain Bragg's 
artillery was employed against the barricades in the streets 
and the enemy on the house-tops, and the battle raged with 
fury. The Texans, Tennesseeans and Mississippians, entered 
the houses, climbed to the roofs, drove continually, the en- 
emy from house-top to house-top, while others picked and 
stove their w'ay, through the strong partition brick and stone 
walls below, from house to house, and room to room, avoid- 
ing the streets raked from the barricades, until thus, by a 
hard fought track through the houses, of blood and death, 
round the barricades on either side, they opened upon the as- 
tonished Mexican cannoniers and soldiery afire from the house 
tops above them, and the doors and windows ; and closing 
around on the rear, captured the guns, compelling the enemy 
to retire. So from house-top to house-top, and through wall 
after wall, they advanced, driving the enemy before them. 

While this severe fighting was going on in and around 
the squares of the eastern part of the city. General Worth 
from the Bishop's Palace, attacked the western part. His 
division moved in two columns, and quickly reached the cem- 
etery (marked D,) where he planted a mortar, and immedi- 
ately commenced throwing shells into the Plaza (A.) the 
main body of the enemy being there. These shells did much 
execution in that crowd of soldiers, killing them by scores. 
The division was separated into many small detachments of 
fifty or sixty each, and ordered to take different streets and 
squares in driving in the enemy. They suffered very little 
from his cannon in the street, working, like those in the other 
end, through the buildings ; and on the house-tops, firing from 
parapet wall to parapet wall; their sure aim took any Mexi- 
can whose head was in view. The Texas rangers here, were 
of the greatest service. Foot by foot, and house by house, the 
enemy were driven in towards the Plaza, and when night 
ended the conflict of both divisions, the enemy were reduced 
in possession of the city, to a few squares around the Plaza, 
showed by the dotted line (marked K, K). These house-tops 
joining each other for sometimes the whole length of a 
square, the advance of a square was rapidly made. The 



110 GENERAL AMPUDIA'S PROPOSAL. 

destruction and carnage now was terrible. — On the approach 
of night, the troops on the eastern side were withdrawn to 
the captured forts, and Gen. Quitman's brigade of 1st Ten- 
nessee and Mississippi regiments, having been on duty since 
the morning of the day before, continually fighting, without 
food by day, or shelter or blankets during the rainy night, 
were now relieved, by Gen. Hamer's brigade, of 1st Ohio and 
1st Kentucky regiments, and Capt. Webster's artillery. 

Darkness, as before, stopped, for the time, the sanguinary 
scene ; though shells were, all the night, thrown from Worth's 
mortar into the Plaza, which were very destructive. This 
night, Gen. Worth had three cannon hoisted on the top of 
a building, and also two nine pounders placed in battery 
on the height, in the rear of the city, (marked 0,in the plan,) 
and all things were in readiness for the renewal of the com- 
bat in the morning ; and thus ended the battle of the 23d. 

On Thursday the 24th, the battle was renewed, but such 
had been the terrible effect of the assault, the day before, 
that a flag of truce was sent out from General Ampudia, 
commander-in-chief of the Mexican forces, to General Taylor, 
by Colonel Moreno, adjutant general of the Mexican army, 
bearing the following communication : 

" HEADaUARTERS, AT MoNTEREY, 

Sept. 23, 1846, 9 o'clock, P. M. 

Senor Major General — Having made the defence ofwhich, I believe 
this city susceptible, I have fulfilled my duty, and have satisfied that 
military honor which, in a certain manner, is common to all armies of 
the civilized world. 

To prosecute the defence, therefoi-e, would only result in distress to 
the population, who have already suffered enough from the misfortunes 
consequent on war ; and taking it for granted that the American Go- 
vernment has manifested a disposition to negociate, I propose to evacu- 
ate the city and its fort, taking with me the personelle and materielle 
which have remained, and under the assurance that no harm shall ensue 
to the inhabitants who have taken a part in the defence. 

Be pleased to accept the assurance of my most distinguished consid- 
eration. PEDRO DE AMPUDIA. 

To Seuor Don Z. TAYLOR, 

General-in-chief of the American Army." 



CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES. HI 

All hostilities ceased for the time, and General Taylor sent 
back the following reply : 

" HEADaUARTERS ArMY OF OCCUPATION, 

Camp before Monterey, Sept. 24, 1846. 

Sir, — Your communication, bearing date at nine o'clock P. M. on 
the 23d inst., has just been received by the hands of Col. Moreno. 

In answer to your proposition to evacuate the city and fort with all 
the personal and material of war, I have to state that my duty compels 
me to decline acceding to it. A complete surrender of the town and 
garrison, the latter as prisoners of war, is now demanded. But such 
surrender will be upon terms, and the gallant defence of the place, cre- 
ditable alike to the Mexican troops and nation, will prompt me to make 
these terms as liberal as possible. The garrison will be allowed, at 
your option, after laying down its arms, to retire to the interior on 
condition of not serving again during the war, or until regularly ex- 
changed. I need hardly say that the rights of non-combatants will be 
respected. 

An answer to this communication is required by 12 o'clock. If 
you assent to an accommodation, an officer will be dispatched at once, 
under instructions to arrange the conditions. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

Z. TAYLOR, 
Maj. Gen. U. S. Army commanding. 
Senor D. PEDRO DE AMPUDIA. 

General-in-chief, Monterey." 

At 11 o'clock, General Ampudia requested a personal con- 
ference with General Taylor, which was granted, and after 
some delay, it resulted in the appointment of commissioners 
for the capitulation of the city. These were, by General 
Taylor, Brigadier-general Worth, General Henderson, Go- 
vernor of Texas, and Colonel Davis, of the Mississippi regi- 
ment. Those appointed by General Ampudia, were General 
Tomas Requena, of the artillery, General Ortega, and Don 
Manuel M. Llano. 

The terms of capitulation agreed on were as follows, viz: 



112 TERMS OF CAPITULATION OF 

" Terms of capitulation of the city of Monterey, the capital of Nuevo 
Leon, agreed upon by the undersigned commissioners, to wit: Gen- 
eral Worth, of the United States' army ; General Henderson, of the 
Texan volunteers, and Colonel Davis, of the Mississippi riflemen, 
on the part of Major General Taylor, commanding-in-chief the 
United States' forces ; and General Requena and General Ortega, 
of the army of Mexico, and Senor Manuel Llano, governor of 
Nuevo Leon, on the part of Senor General Don Pedro Ampudia, 

.- commanding-in-chief the army in the north of Mexico. 

Art. 1. As the legitimate result of the operations before this place, 
and the present position of the contending armies, it is agreed that 
the city, the fortifications, cannon, the munitions of war, and all other 
public property, with the undermentioned exceptions, be surrendered 
to the commanding general of the United States' forces, now at Mon- 
terey. 

Art. 2. That the Mexican forces be allowed to retain the follow- 
ing arms, to wit : the commissioned officers their side arms, the in- 
fantry their arms and accoutrements, the cavalry, their arms and accou- 
trements, the artillery one field battery, not to exceed six pieces, with 
twenty-one rounds of ammunition. 

Art. 3. That the Mexican armed forces retire within seven days 
from this date, beyond the line formed by the pass of the Rinconada, 
the city of Linares, and San Fernando de Presas. 

Art. 4. That the citadel of Monterey be evacuated by the Mexi- 
can, and occupied by the American forces, to-morrow morning, at 10 
o'clock. 

Art. 5. To avoid collisions, and for mutual convenience, the 
troops of the United States will not occupy the city until the Mexican 
forces have withdrawn, except for hospital and storage purposes. 

Art. 6. That the force-s of the United States will not advance be- 
yond the line specified in the 2d (3d) article before the expiration of 
eight weeks, or until the orders or instructions of the respective go- 
vernments can be received. 

Art. 7. That the public property to be delivered shall be turned 
over and received by officers appointed by the commanding generals 
of the two armies. 

Art. 8. That all doubts as to the meaning of any of the preceding 
articles shall be solved by an equitable construction, and on principles 
of liberality to the retiring army. 



THE CITY OF MONTEREY. 113 

Art. 9. The Mexican flag, when struck at the citadel, may be sa- 
luted by its own battery. 

Done at Monterey, September 24th, 1846. 

W. J. WORTH, Brig. Gen. U. S. Jlrmy. 

J. P. HENDERSON, My". Gm. com'g Texan Vol. 

JEFFERSON DAVIS, Colonel Miss. Rijlemen. 

MANUEL M. LLANO. 

T, REQUENA. 

ORTEGA. 

Approved : 

PEDRO AMPUDIA. 

Z. TAYLOR, Brig. Gen.U. S. armij command' g.'' 

The Black Fort or citadel, mentioned in article fourth, 
was evacuated the following morning, Friday, the 25th, and 
taken possession of by our troops ; and the city also, accord- 
ing to the terms of the capitulation. When our forces en- 
tered and examined the city, they were astonished at the 
magnitude and strength of the defences, and only wondered 
that it had been taken at all. 

So fell the city of Monterey, the capital of the State of 
New Leon, the strongest city in the north of Mexico, with a 
full supply of munitions of war, and with a garrison of over 
ten thousand men, protected by the most formidable entrench- 
ments and fortifications ; after three days' hard fighting be- 
fore the bravery and determined perseverance of six thou- 
sand Americans, more than half of whom never had been in 
a battle before. The American loss, in these three days, 
was five hundred and fifty killed and wounded ; Mexican, 
never ascertained exactly, but between twelve and fifteen 
hundred. The hospitals were filled with their wounded, left 
to the care of the invaders. 

The volunteer regiments, through these battles, excited, by 

their gallantry and unflinching firmness, the admiration of 

all the regular officers and troops ; acting more like veteran 

soldiers, than like men but a few weeks from the pursuits of 

8 



114 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



peaceful life. The killed and wounded of these volunteer 



regiments were as follows 



FIRST TENNESSEE REGIMENT COLONEL CAMPBELL. 



No. 


NAMES. 


RANK. 


COMP. 


REMARKS. 




KILLED. 










1 


W.B.Allen .... 


Captain 




Killed on 


the 21st. 




2 


>S. M. Putman . . . 


2d Lieuten. 




" 


" 




1 


John B. Porter . . . 


Private 


c 


i( 


i< 




2 


William H. Robinson 


« 


« 


a 


11 




3 


John A. Hill .... 


Sergeant 


D 


u •* 


11 




4 


B. F. Coffee .... 


Private 


" 


<( 


K 




5 


E. W. Thomas . . . 


" 


E 


« 


4« 




6 


Booker H. Dolton . . 


« 


F 


<( 


« 




7 


Isaac Gurman Elliot . 


n 


G 


« 


(1 




8 


Peter H. Martin . . 


n 


" 


<( 


K 




9 


Edward Pryor . . . 


(I 


(( 


<( 


(1 




10 


Benjamin Soaper . . 


c< 


i( 


(( 


11 




11 


Henry CoUins . . . 


<( 


H 


(( 


t( 




12 


James H. Allison . . 


" 


I 


i( 


« 




13 


James H. Johnston . 


<t 


li 


(( 


(( 




14 


James B. Turner . . 


M 


i( 


(( 


11 




15 


R. D. Willis .... 


(( 


u 


« 


11 




16 


Joseph B. Burkitt . . 


« 


K 


i( 


(1 




17 


Jas. M. L. Campbell . 


<( 


" 


11 


(1 




18 


A. J. Eaton .... 


(( 


(1 


<( 


U 




19 


A. J. Gibson .... 


« 


ti 


« 


(( 




20 


Finlay Glover . . , 


« 


It 


11 


11 




21 


A. J. Pratt .... 


« 


(1 


<( 


(1 




22 


William Rhodes . , 


<( 


<( 


" 


11 




23 


John W. Sanders . . 


It 


i( 


u 


u 




24 


G. W. Wilson . . . 

WOUNDED. 


ti 


" 


t( 


u 




1 


R. B. Alexander . . 


Major 




Wounded on the 21st 


, severely. 


2 


J. L. Scudder , , . 


1st Lieut. 




li 


» 




3 


G. H. Nixon . . . 


« 




a 


1. 


slightly. 


4 


J. C. Allen .... 


2d Lieut. 




(I 


11 


severely. 


1 


F. F. Winston . . . 


Corporal 


B 


«( 


<1 


slightly. 


2 


J. L. Bryant .... 


Private 


i( 


u 


11 


severely. 


3 


Alexander Bigam . . 


« 


ti 


u 


11 


" 


4 


D. G. Fleming , . . 


(( 


« 


« 


(1 


ti 


6 


Mackey Roney , . . 


<( 


(( 


(C 


t( 


Cl 


6 


Samuel Davis . . . 


<( 


" 


(( 


tc 


cc 


7 


James Thompson . . 


u 


i( 


(C 


It 


ic 


8 


David Collins . . . 


" 


K 


cc 


1< 


severely. 


9 


A. S. Duval .... 


l< 


" 


(( 


11 


slightly. 


10 


T. B. Powell . . . 


l< 


11 


(( 


<c 


11 


11 


Wm. B. Davis . . . 


<( 


c 


(( 


I< 


11 


12 


Joseph Law .... 


(( 


" 


<< 


" 


it 


13 


James York .... 


« 


" 


« 


CI 


mortally. 


U 


William Young . . 


<f 


t( 


<( 


cc 


11 


15 


Richard Gifford . . . 


<( 


{1 


(C 


C( 


slightly. 


16 


A. V. Stanfield . . . 


(( 


« 


« 


(( 


11 


17 


Asa Lamb .... 


« 


CI 


IC 


11 


11 


18 


J. J. Argo 


Corporal 


D 


(C 


« 


11 


19 


James Todd .... 


Private 


" 


(( 


« 


severely. 


20 


Thomas Vickens . . 


i( 


4( 


(( 


(( 


11 


21 


W. D. Cabler . . . 


« 


E 


«( 


" since dead. 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



115 



TENNESSEE REGIMENT— CONTINUED. 



NAMES. 



James M. Vance . 
George W. Gilbert 
Chas. M. Talley 
Michael Crantze 
R. G. Locke . . 
J. F. Raphile . . 
Thomas Kelly . 
Albert 'I'omlinson 
Julius G. Elliott 
K. A. Cole . 
James H. Jenkins 
A. G. Stewart . 
Gulinger Holt . 
James Patterson 
Charles Arnold 
J. J. Blackwell . 
Joseph Crutchfield 
J. Freeman , . 
J. D. Gilmer . . 
P. O. Hale . . 
Daniel C. King 
C. B. Maguire . 
S. S. Reaves . . 
A. W. Reaves . 
Augustin Stevens 
Thomas N. Smith 
C. B. Ward . . 
Charles Davis . 
Robert W. Green 
Eli Browii . . 
W. F. Bowen . 
Peter Eugles . . 
Robert Flannigan 
William Lowery 
S. N. Massy . . 

E. G. Zachary . 
W. M. Alferd . 
John H. Kay . 

A. S. Alexander 
M. C. Abinathy 
Jesse Brashars . 
J. M. Bailey . . 
Campbell G. Boyd 

B. L. Commons 
J. W. Curtis 
H. H. Dodson 
John Gavin . 
Aaron Parks 

F. Richardson 
A. O. Richardson 
Thomas C. Ramsay 
John Vining . . 
M. D. Watson . 
Thomas Thompson 

MISSING. 

Felix Wordzincki . 
R. R. Morehead . 



RANK. 



1st Serg. 
Sergeant 
Private 



Corporal 
Private 



Sergeant 
Corporal 
Private 



1st Serg. 
Corporal 
Private 



Corporal 
Private 



COMP. 



H 



K 



Private 



Wounded on the 21st, severely. 

" «' slightly. 

<i «< " 

" " severely. 

(C (( « 

" " since dead. 

" " severely. 



slightly, 
severely. 



slightly. 



severely 
(( 

slightly, 
severely. 



slightly. 



severely. 



slightly, 
severely. 



slightly, 
severely. 



slightly, 
severely 

slightly. 

severely. 



" 23d 

Missing on 21st,return'd unhurt. 
Certainly killed in action of 21st. 



116 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT COLONEL DAVIS. 



No. 


NAMES. 


RANK. 


COM?. 


REMARKS. 




KILLED. 












1 


L. M. Troeur . . . 


Private 


C 


Killed on the 21sL 




2 


Silas Mitcham . , . 


<< 


E 


cc 






3 


Samuel Potts . . . 


« 


G 


cc 






4 


Joseph H. Tenelle . 


(( 


H 


cc 






5 


William H. Grisam . 


Corporal 


I 


cc 






6 


Joseph Heaton . . . 


Private 


cc 


cc 






7 


Joseph Dawning . , 


(( 


cc 


cc 






8 


Daniel D. Dubois . . 


« 


H 


cc 


22d 




9 


John M. Tyree . . . 

WOUNDED, 


cc 


K 


cc 


23d 


# 


1 


Alex. K. M'Glung . 


Lieut-col. 




Wounded on 21st, 


dangerously. 


2 


R. N. Downing . . 


Captain 




cc 


" 


severely. 


3 


Henry T. Cook . 




1st Lieut. 




cc 


cc 


slightly. 


4 


Rufus K. Arthur . 


. 


2d Lieut. 




cc 


cc 


cc 


5 


L.T.Howard . . 


, 


(C 




cc 


22d & 23d 


severely. 


1 


Henry H. Miller . 




Private 


B 


cc 


21st, 


dangerously. 


2 


J. H. Jackson , . 


^ 


(( 


cc 


cc 


cc 


" 


3 


A. Lainhart . . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


cc 


severely. 


4 


J. L. Anderson . 




<( 


cc 


cc 


cc 


slightly. 


5 


G. H. Jones . . 




(C 


(t 


cc 


cc 


cc 


6 


John D. Markham , 


Corporal 


c 


c« 


cc 


severely. 


7 


H. B. Thompson . . 


Private 


(S 


cc 


cc 


slightly. 


8 


E. W. Hollingsworth 


Sergeant 


D 


cc 


cc 


" 


9 


Dr. G. W. Ramsay . 


Private 


" 


cc 


cc 


mortally. 


10 


Alphius Cobb . . . 


<c 


cc 


" 


cc 


dangerously 


11 


George Wills . 




(< 


cc 


cc 


cc 


severely. 


12 


W. Huffman . 




<c 


cC 


cc 


C( 


" 


13 


O. W. Jones . . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


14 


William Orr . . 




(( 


cc 


cc 


cc 


slightly. 


15 


D. Love . . . 




(C 


cc 


Cc 


<t 


cc 


16 


Joseph H. Langfor 


d! 


Sergeant 


E 


cc 


cc 


cc 


17 


A. P. Barnham 




Private 


" 


cc 


cc 


mortally. 


18 


H. W. Pierce . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


cc 


dangerously. 


19 


William Shadt . 




<( 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


20 


W. H. Fleming 




(( 


cc 


cc 


cc 


severely. 


21 


Jacob Frederick 




(( 


CI 


cc 


cc 


slightly. 


22 


John Coleman . 




(t 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


23 


Wm. P. Spencer 




« 


cc 


(C 


cc 


cc 


24 


M. M. Smith . 




C( 


cc 


a 


cc 


te 


25 


James Kilvey . 




(( 


cc 


C( 


cc 


cc 


26 


J. Williamson . 




<( 


G 


cc 


cc 


dangerously. 


27 


A. W. Taig . . 




(C 


cc 


(C 


cc 


cc 


28 


Warren White . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


cc 


severely. 


29 


Robert Bowen . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


(t 


cc 


30 


Frederick Mathew 


3 . 


« 


cc 


cc 


(• 


mortally. 


31 


Benj. F. Roberts 




(( 


cc 


cc 


<c 


slightly. 


32 


Avery Noland . 




« 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


33 


Francis A. Wolf 




Sergeant 


I 


cc 


cc 


dangerously. 


34 


G. F. Cotton . 




Private 


cc 


te 


(C 


severely. 


35 


Geo. Williams . 




(C 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


36 


Nat Massie . . 




cc 


cc 


(C 


(C 


slightly. 


37 


WilUam H. Bell 




Sergeant 


K 


<c 


<c 


dangerously. 


38 


E. B. Lewis . . 




Private 


cc 


cc 


<c 


cc 


39 


D. B. Lewis . . 




« 


cc 


(t 


fl 


cc 


40 


Charles Martin . 


<( 


cc 


ee 


cc 


cc 


41 


James L. Thompson . 


cc 


cc 


t( 


<c 


slightly. 


42 


John Stewart . 




cc 


(( 


t< 


u 


cc 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



117 



MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT CONTINUED. 



No. 


NAMES. 


RANK. 


COMP. 
K 


REMARKS. 


43 


John McNorris . . . 


Private 


Wounded on 21st, slightly. 


44 


R. W. Chance . . . 


II 


B 


" 22d & 23d, mortally. 


45 


P. W. Johnson . . . 


i< 


C 


" " severely. 


46 


Robert Grigg .... 


t( 


H 


" « slightly. 


47 


Piatt Snedicor . . . 


(( 


K 


" " mortally. 





FIRST OHIO REGIMENT 


COLONEL MITCHELL. 




No. 


NAMES. 


RANK 


COMP. 


REMARKS. 




KILLED. 












1 


Mathew Hett , . . 


1st Lieut. 




Killed on 


the 2 1 St. 




1 


W. G. Davis . . . 


1st Serg. 


B 


cc 


cc 




2 


D. F. Smith .... 


Private 


>( 


cc 


CI 




3 


0. B. Coxe .... 


It 


<( 


C( 


II 




4 


Elijah Reese .... 


It 


It 


cc 


II 




5 


Thomas McMurray . 


It 


(( 


cc 


l( 




6 


W. H. Harris . . . 


Corporal 


1st Rifle 


IC 


CC 




7 


Richard Welch . . . 


Private 


A 


CI 


CI 




8 


James McCockey . . 


(( 


C 


cc 


II 




9 


George Phale . . . 


It 


<( 


CI 


cc 




10 


William Weber . . 


t( 


<( 


IC 


CI 




11 


John Havolett , . . 


« 


D 


cc 


•1 




12 


T. D. Egan .... 


<< 


E 


II 


II 




13 


Stephen Freeman . . 


<( 


2d Rifle 


It 


II 




14 


Oscar Behnee . . . 

WOUNDED. 


(( 


i( 


IC 


cc 






W. 0. Butler . . . 


Maj. Gen. 




Wounde( 


on 21st, 


severely. 


1 


A. M. Mitchell . . . 


Colonel 




IC 


cc 


severely. 


2 


A. W. Armstrong 


Lt. & Adj. 




(C 


cc 


cc 


3 


Lewis Morter . . . 


1st Lieut. 




CI 


<c 


slightly. 


4 


N. H. Niles .... 


« 




cc 


cc 


severely 


5 


H. Mc(Jarty .... 


2d Lieut. 




II 


II 


slightly. 


6 


James George . . . 


Captain 




cc 


cc 


cc 


1 


Samuel Myers . . . 


Private 


1st Rifle 


cc 


cc 


II 


2 


Josiah A. Kellam . . 


<( 


(( 


IC 


II 


Cc 


3 


Edward Wade . . . 


It 


(< 


IC 


IC 


cc 


4 


William Maloney . . 


1st Serg. 


A 


CI 


cc 


cc 


5 


John Farrell .... 


Private 


" 


II 


IC 


cc 


6 


John Clarken . . . 


(( 


« 


II 


cc 


cc 


7 


William Work . . . 


«• 


« 


IC 


II 


cc 


8 


Thos. Vande Venter , 


(( 


<c 


cc 


cc 


cc 


9 


John Flannigan . . 


It 


IC 


IC 


CI 


cc 


10 


Jeremiah Ryan . . . 


<( 


l< 


cc 


CI 


cc 


11 


Michael Gilligan . . 


(( 


« 


It 


IC 


CI 


12 


'I'obias Went . . . 


« 


C 


IC 


cc 


It 


13 


Charles Segar . . . 


(( 


IC 


IC 


CI 


It 


14 


Griffin l^owerd . . . 


<c 


D 


<c 


cc 


cc 


15 


Alfred Doneghue . . 


(( 


II 


IC 


cc 


cc 


16 


Joseph Lonibeck . . 


»« 


IC 


cc 


cc 


cc 


17 


Silas Burrill .... 


(C 


CI 


IC 


cc 


II 


18 


Willirim Miller . . . 


Sergeant 


E 


cc 


cc 


cc 


19 


G. W. Fitzhugh . . 


Corporal 


IC 


n 


cc 


cc 


20 


Robert Doney . . . 


Private 


II 


IC 


cc 


It 


21 


Adam F. Shane . . 


IC 


G 


<c 


cc 


cc 


22 


John Fletcher . . . 


« 


IC 


K 


cc 


(C 


23 


A. B. McKee . . . 


l< 


IC 


u 


u 


IC 


24 


George Myer . , . 


Corporal 


H 


u 


H 


M 



118 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



FIRST OHIO REGIMENT CONTINUED. 



NAMES. 


RANK. 


E. J. Spoole • . . . 
Henry Weber , , . 


Private 


Henry Myer .... 
George Webster . . 
George Longfellow . 
John F. Longley . . 
John Pearson . . . 


Sergeant 

<c 

Corporal 
Private 


R. H. Alcott .... 


<( 


Henry Humphries . 


« 



COM P. 


REMARKS. 


H 


Wounded on 21st, 


slightly. 


11 




« 


(t 




(C 


2d Rifle 




<( 


(( 




« 


(( 




« 


(C 




died since. 


(C 




« 


<c 


u a 


u 



FIRST KENTUCKY REGIMENT COLONEL ORMSBY. 



NAMES. 



WOUNDED. 

Valentine Deutche 
Lewis Young . . 
Joseph Bartlett . . 
Philip Smith . . . 
Thomas Alender . 



RANK. COMP 



Private 



REMARKS. 



Wounded on the 21st. 
<( « 

« on the 22d. 



COLONEL HAYS REGIMENT— TEXAS RANGERS. 



No. 


NAMES. 


RANK. 


COMP. 


REMARKS. 




KILLED. 








1 


R. A. Gillaspie . . . 


Captain 


I 


Killed on the 21st 


2 


John M. Fullerton 




Corporal 


K 


(( <c 


3 


J. W. D. Austin . 




Private 


E 


<C (( 


4 


Daniel McCarty . 




<( 


D 


(C « 


5 


Herman S. Thomas 

WOUNDED. 




(C 


A 


(>' « 


1 


.Armstrong . 




tc 


<e 


Wounded on 21st, severelj. 


2 


Fielding Alston 






(C 


(( 


<t (C 


3 


John P. Waters 






(C 


(C 


« (C 


4 


C. E. De Witt . 






(C 


it 


(C (C 


5 


Oliver Jenkins 








(C 


« 


" " slightly. 


6 


J. F. Minter . 








(C 


<i 


(( CI (C 


7 


Thomas Law 








« 


<( 


(« a 


8 


John Robb 








« 


C 


<( 'C 


9 


Wm. E. Reese 








Lieut. 


D 


ft ft 


10 


Jes.se Perkins 








Private 


E 


" " 


11 


N. P. Browning 






(C 


F 


ft ft 


12 


Roundtree 






Sergeant 


G 


(C ft 


13 


J.B.Walker. . 






Corporal 


H 


ft ft 


14 


Wm. Corley . . 






Private 


<( 


" " severely. 


15 


Gilbert Brush . 






(C 


« 


" " slightly. 


16 


J. B. Barry . . 






Sergeant 


K 


« « «t 


17 


B. F. Keys . . 

MISSING. 






Private 


(C 


« « <( 


1 


J. Buchanan . . 






K 


H 


Missing on the 21st. 


2 


H.P.Lyon . . 






K 


« 


(C (( 


3 


U. W. Tufts . 








<C 


" 


« K 



KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



119 



BALTIMORE BATTALION. 



No. 


NAMES. 


RANK. 


COMP. 


REMARKS. 




KILLED. 










1 


Wm. H. Watson . . 


Lieut-col. 




Killed on 


the 21st. 




2 


John Trescort . 






1st Serg. 


B 




(( 




3 
4 
5 
6 


G. A. Herring . 
Alex. Ramsey . 
Joseph Warry . 
Patrick O'Brien 

WOUNDED. 






Sergeant 
Private 

a 
(I 


F 
E 

B 


« 


a 
u 
u 
a 




1 
2 


W. P. Poulson 
Robert Caples . 






1st Serg. 
Private 


A 


Wounded on the 21st, slightly. 
" " severely. 


3 


James Piles . . 








" 


<( 




(( 


4 


Albert Hart . . 








« 


(C 




<( 


5 


William Lee . . 








(C 


cc 




" 


6 

7 


Jacob Hemming 
Geo. Aunuld . . 








B 


(( 




slightly, 
severely. 


8 


Chas. Peck . . 








D 


ei 




slightly. 


9 


Andrew J. Norris 








« 


ft 




a 


10 


Geo.AUen . . . 








E 


a 




a 


11 
12 
13 

14 
15 


Jas. Henry . . 
Harry Elting . 
Wm. Kelly . . 
H. GifFord . . . 
Melvin J. Stone 








F 

(< 


(( 
ti 

a 
it 




<( 
ti 

severely, 
slightly. 


16 
17 


E. W. Stephenson 
Wm. P. Alexande 


r 






A 






cc 

severely 



COLONEL WOODS REGIMENT TEXAS RANGERS. 

Killed, George Short, Thomas Gregory. 

Wounded, Baker Barton, Chas. G. Davenport, 

" Ira Griggsby, Calvin Reese. 

PH(ENIX COMPANY, LOUISIANA, CAPTAIN BLANCHARD. 

Killed, S. G. Alleng, John Francis. 

Wounded, Louis Kirk, J. W. Miller, 

" W. Burton, M. Morton. 

CAPTAIN shivers' COMPANY TEXAS INFANTRY. 

Kiiixo, James C. Pennington. 



CHAPTERIV. 

We will now return to the march of the regiment that was 
left, at the close of chapter III, in the midst of the beautiful 
section of country between the Brazos and Colorado rivers, in 
Texas, on September 24th — so far on the march to the seat 
of war. 

On the evening of the 24th, the regiment encamped in a 
valley, and on the side of a long hill, covered with large 
timber. On the top of this hill was an extensive farm, from 
which the necessary forage for the night was procured. Wa- 
ter, furnished by springs, was rather scanty ; but in other 
respects the encampment was pleasant. Arriving at it early 
in the afternoon, every soldier had his horse well attended 
to, and his supper before sunset ; the evening passed away 
pleasantly. The shade being very thick over us, and the air 
remarkably clear and calm, many messes chose to spread their 
blankets in the open air, rather than put up their tents ; the 
author was of this number; and spreading down his blanket, 
in company with a young soldier, one of his messmates, 
promised himself a sweet sleep. His comrade reclined upon 
the grass, near by, with his clarionette, his constant com- 
panion on the march, and being quite in the spirit for music, 
he played and sung for an hour or two ; and when all the 
lights were out in the valley below, and on the hill, and all 
had retired, the notes of the clarionette floated gently through 
the quiet air. He played " The Girl I left behind me," and 
following with " Sweet Home," at last wound up his concert 
with " Oh ! no, I '11 never mention him," and then, with a mel- 
ancholy sigh, he put up his clarionette, and laid down beside 

(120) 



A "NORTHER." 121 

him; related a long tale of unrequited love, which, without 
doubt, was very affecting ; but before he got well into it, his 
hearer was asleep. 

In an hour or two, we were suddenly awakened by a quick, 
strong wind, rushing through the trees above us. We sprang 
up ; instead of the clear starlight, the night was now dark ; 
the black clouds above were rapidly flying over us, and the 
strong wind, as it were, in an instant, drove every particle 
of warm air away, and it became cold and chilly so quick, 
that the change of feeling occasioned, could only be com- 
pared to a sudden immersion in cold water. A Texas 
" Norther" was down upon us ; which we had often heard of, 
but never before had experienced. It grew colder, and heavy 
rain descended, and every one out was wet in a moment. It 
was too late to get the tent then. So immediately we threw 
our saddlebags against the trunk of the tree ; our saddles 
on top, and sat down on them together, with our backs 
against the tree, and our two blankets doubled over our 
heads, and around us ; but we could not keep warm; we 
shivered and shook in the cold wind and rain, which beat, in 
the darkness, on us ; and so we passed the time till daylight, 
about four hours, which appeared, to us, to be twenty. We 
were obliged to sit all the time in one position ; and we 
made many resolutions, to the effect that we, in future, each 
night, would put up our tents, rain or shine. This " norther " 
did not last long, being over by sunrise, and the air soon 
grew warm again. 

September 2bth. Our tin-cups full of coffee, hot as we could 
drink, with a fine piece of fat pork and a hard piece of 
pilot bread, as usual, was our breakfast; and much it re- 
vived us, after our uncomfortable night; and we soon felt 
as well as though we had slept soundly. Our company be- 
ing last in line of march this day, we were not hurried in 
starting; but packed our tents and saddled up at our leisure, 
while company after company passed along by us ; and 
when the ninth had filed by, we took the road in rear ; then 
as advantageous as any part, for the march was short, no 
dust, and plenty of water. — The same rolling prairie, with 



122 MANNER OF " STAMPEDE." 

the same black soil, continued. The swells of land were 
not so high as before, and consequently the changing views 
not quite so extensive, though full enough so for beauty and 
variety. 

At noon, we arrived at the next encampment, on a pretty 
stream of clear water, one mile east of the town of La 
Grange, on the Colorado. The encampment was on both 
sides of the stream, occupying much space, and was conve- 
nient. Many of the citizens of the town came out to visit 
us. — We were much interested in the conversation of one, in 
particular, giving to a dozen of us, laid round in the grass, 
a history of his frontier life in this country, for the last four- 
teen years ; — of his part in the battles with the Mexicans at 
San Antonio, San Jacinto and Lost Prairie ; — his escape from 
the bloody butchery of Fannin's command, to which he I'^ad 
belonged ; — his pursuits of, and fights with the Comanche^'^n- 
dians ; — his description of them, their appearance, hf'''se- 
manship, customs, and of the character of their country, but 
a few daj^s' travel to the north and north-west from he '. ; — 
of their sudden inroads upon the settlements, &c., (Stc.*^' The 
old soldier and hunter, for he was both, kept groups inter- 
ested in his relations until near night. He informed us of the 
manner in which the Indians make a " stampede " to steal 
horses, and cautioned us to look out at night, now, as we 
were soon to pass the frontier. 

He stated that the Indians would hang on the distant 
verge of the horizon, unperceived by the eyes of an unpracticed 
person, watching the movements of the body. — That late at 
night, when all was still, they approach the camp, well moun- 
ted, and with two or three trained horses loose. To these, they 
attach several dry hides, which rattle ; and bells, and jing- 
ling pieces of metal, and suddenly start them off at full speed 
with loud yells, directly into the camp : the coming horses, 
thus accoutred, their noise and the yells of the Indians, so 
frighten any other horses, unaccustomed to it, that no com- 
mon rope can hold them ; but breaking and tearing every 
thing loose, they rush over men and tents, and following the 
trained horses, fly in a body out in the prairie, on the oppo- 



LA GRANGE. 123 

site direction from that, from whence the alarm originated. 
On this side, too, are mounted Indians, who receive and in- 
stantly drive off the herd. Pm*suJt is useless. — He recom- 
mended to us to be watchful in the prairie wilderness ; to 
have our guns loaded at night, and our horses near us, and 
upon any such alarm, quickly to kill the coming horse, before 
he got into the camp, &c. These Comanches were, a few 
years back, very troublesome, but now have retreated further 
from the settlements. A small band of Lipans and Tonka- 
ways still hunt in this section of country, and have encamped 
near La Grange during several winters. These, as well as 
the Comanches, are mostly armed with strong bows and ar- 
rows ; having, however, some rifles, shot guns and lances. 

Saturday, September 2Qth. The regiment were on the line 
of march early in the morning, and proceeded on to the town 
of 1 a Grange. The advance did not stop in town, but pro- 
ceea ^1 on to the ferry, on the Colorado, three- fourths of a 
mile down the stream, and immediately commenced crossing. 
The 'lole day was occupied in the passage of the regiment 
and V agon train. Four of us, of company G, being detailed, 
that day, as a guard, we did not go to the ferry till even- 
ing, but spent the day in town. This is the county-seat 
of Fayette county, which lies on both sides of the Colorado. 
The town is well laid out ; its building.s are neat, and a 
general air of prosperity pervades the place. Population 
five hundred. A steamboat has been built upon the river, 
which plies up and down, though the navigation is obstruct- 
ed completely near its mouth, by a raft of drift timber, some 
miles in length; though it is said, that the raft can easily be 
removed. At present the trade of La Grange is done at Hous- 
ton, one hundred miles to the south-east. At the ferry, the 
river appeared to be deep, and had a strong current. After 
the regiment had crossed, we followed on, and, on the other 
side, rising a long hill, we found the encampment in 
a grove of timber — a good situation, but too extended, the 
camp occupying, perhaps, two hundred acres. It was nearly 
dark when we came up, and the whole were occupied with 
getting their suppers. Many bright fires, gleamed in rows 



124 FINE NATURAL SCENERY. 

on the hills, and cast an indistinct, wavering light far around. 
Fine grass, tall as wheat, and thick and green, was over the 
whole ground ; it served our horses well, with the corn they 
had got. We took care to pitch our tents, and slept undis- 
turbed. The wind blew a gentle breeze from the north, 
during the night, and it was quite cool. 

Sunday, September 21th. The regiment, upon leaving the 
woodland, this morning came out again on the rolling prairie ; 
and a succession of beautiful views, such as have been before 
mentioned, followed each other for the whole distance of the 
march. The wide extent of tall thick grass, spread over the 
hills and valleys, apparently untrodden by any living being, 
to leave a step behind. It waved in the wind, and presented 
a continual appearance of progressing undulations, as the 
breeze passed over, and gently swept up the hills. — These 
hills were of larger base than before, but not so high as those 
between the Brazos and Colorado rivers ; the valleys, too, 
were more extensive, with continual, long, gentle slopes ; 
some of them contained from one to two thousand acres, 
every foot of which was open to the view from the same 
spot. The soil was the same ; black and fertile, mixed with 
shells. When in the valley, if you looked around, you saw 
the long green slopes, on either hand, with romantic groves 
of live oak trees, without an}^ smaller growth, here and there 
for miles along the valley. — If you observed the scene from the 
tops of the swells, the eye was fatigued with the rich succes- 
sion of vale and hill, of every gently rounded form ; — of groves 
and open sunny slopes. The moving column of the regiment 
with the head rising over the hill, the middle winding through 
the vale, and the rear on the hill again, with the wagons, 
one by one, closely following in a long line behind, gave an 
appearance of life and animation to the scene. — These last, 
showed a pleasing contrast of white covers, in the distance 
against the green of the prairie. — Not a house or plantation 
broke the succession of wild luxuriant vegetation. 

This whole lovely country, so fertile, pleasant and salubri- 
ous, is almost entirely uninhabited. — The advance started 
up from the road a large herd of deer, which had been 



SINGULAR WATER HOLES. 125 

■quietly grazing there ; permission was given, for a few mo- 
ments, for any one who wished to chase them, to do so ; and 
whole companies broke out of the lines at once ; — the remain- 
der halted. — It was exciting, to see so many, scattered from 
each other, going at full speed, in all directions, after the 
dispersed herd ; — over the hills and through the valleys, wind- 
ing and turning, and yet all in full view, nothing intervening 
to obstruct the vision. The deer at last, ran far away to the 
north, and the little dots of pursuing horsemen, growing less 
and less in the distance, could be seen, until finally, they were 
lost to the view. — Those nearest came back to the lines, at 
full speed, and the word was given to move forward. The 
others came up from time to time along in the day, each one 
with a deer, or part of one. In chasing that herd, they had 
started up several more, and all found sport enough. 

In the valleys, we now came to many singular water holes ; 
some of them fifty yards long, and perhaps thirty wide ; the 
water was near the surface, and the long grass, and wild 
flowers bent over to it. From a little distance it looked shal- 
low ; but none of these holes were less than ten feet deep, 
and the most about twenty ; the sides were perfectly perpen- 
dicular for the whole depth ; the water was clear as crystal, 
so that every fish in them, of which there were thousands, and 
every pebble on their bottoms, could be seen. Some of these 
holes were small, not more than eight or ten yards by four or 
five, but all equally clear and deep. — One of the men dismoun- 
ted, at one of these, where the train halted to water, and his 
horse poked his nose through the bending rushes, to drink ; the 
edge of earth broke away, and he went head foremost to the 
bottom, about fifteen feet, with all his accoutrements ; much to 
the annoyance of his rider, and the sport of the rest. — Wc 
passed a solitary grave, carefully paled in, under the spreading 
foliage of an ancient live oak, on the prairie, about one-quarter 
of a mile from the road; some of us rode out to it, but 
there was no name upon it. We supposed that it was the 
grave of a man who fell in a skirmish with the Comanches, 
which had been fought near this place. At 1 P. M. we saw 
the first house, for the day, and soon encamped near it, on a 



126 REPORT OF SICKNESS AHEAD. 

rise of timbered land, overlooking a beautiful meadow, in' 
which were several of the deep holes of water described. 
Beyond the meadow the prairie again was spread out. 

Monday, September 28lh. This morning was very cool. — 
We marched eighteen miles, over the same fine section of 
country, and encamped at the next house on the road, at, 
also, another of these water holes. We saw plenty of deer, 
and some were killed. 

Tuesday, September 29th. We continued our course toward 
Lavacca bay, the next depot of provisions. On this route, 
our course was from La Grange about S. S. W., and we were 
rapidly nearing the sea-coast, and the land, as we proceeded,, 
became graduall}^ more level ; the soil continued excellent. 
At noon we crossed the Lavacca river, in the county of the 
same name. It was now nearly dry, save deep basins along 
its bed ; this wide, sandy bed of the river shows that it is 
sometimes quite a large stream. One habitation was here ; 
the only one we had seen this day. We marched sixteen 
miles and encamped on a clear deep stream. 

Areport having reached camp that Lavacca was very sickly,, 
and that there were but one hundred and seventy-five of the 
Kentucky regiment of cavalry there fit for duty, all the rest be- 
ing sick, Colonel Thom^as called a council of officers, who 
solemnly deliberated on the propriety of encamping fifty-five- 
miles this side, and hauling the supplies from Lavacca, by 
the train. The whole of this council, and the cause that 
led to it, Avas a ridiculous farce. One of the members of the 
regiment, traveling ahead with the forage-master, heard this 
loose report, and immediately wrote to the colonel ; and he 
as soon gave his testimony towards its belief, by calling this 
council to adopt measures concerning it. If the colonel had 
acted with but half of his usual judgment and good sense,^ 
he would have put the letter in his pocket and continued the 
march : and then, when arriving near, if there had been an 
epidemic or sickness raging, he could have known and acted 
upon it definitely ; — but as it was, on this most improbable 
tale, wholly, as it afterward appeared, without foundation,, 
the regiment, and especially those companies from the moun- 



MEXICAN GOURDS. 127 

tains, having a dread of the sea-coast, were thrown into 
considerable anxiety. The council, having nothing definite 
upon which to act, dispersed, and the colonel determined to 
go ahead by himself. He did so, and found the whole a 
false report. 

Wednesday, September 30th. This was a fine cool morning. 
We were on the march at an early hour. Captain Porter, 
being sick, rode in one of the wagons. None of our lieu- 
tenants being present, and the orderly sergeant sick, the 
company marched to-day under the command of the second 
sergeant. The country passed over was fertile, as before, 
but continually becoming more level, and consequently hav- 
ing but little variety in scenery. — The sim became hot, and 
water being scarce on the route, our Mexican gourds came 
in good use. These gourds were much preferable to can- 
teens, for carrying water on the march ; for water, in these, 
would remain cool through the day of the hottest sun ; while 
in the tin canteen, it became warm and unpleasant to the 
taste. This coolness of the gourd, is owing to the continual 
evaporation going on through the shell. They are conveni- 
ent in shape and size, being mostly in the shape of the fig- 
ure 8, and holding from one to two quarts. Round the small 
part of the gourd the strap is fastened, for suspending it to 
the side or the pommel of the saddle. Every traveler in this 
portion of Texas, that we met, had one. Most of our men 
had thrown away their canteens, and obtained one of these 
gourds. (Some of the regiments in the service w^ere fur- 
nished with India rubber bags, or canteens, to carry water; 
but they are liable to the same objections as the tin ones, the 
water in them becoming warm.) 

At two, P. M., we arrived at the encampment, on a pretty 
brook of clear water ; the lofty trees on its banks were cov- 
ered with grape-vines, and the rays of the sun could not 
penetrate beneath, — neither, at night, could the dew fall be- 
low. — We let our tents remain in the wagon, and took our 
resting-places beneath this natural arbor ; and as the night 
became cool, we built large fires, around which we slept. 
We had no sentinel, having been relieved from that service 



128 CHASE ON THE PRAIRIE. 

since we left Washington, in Arkansas — there being no ne- 
cessity, as yet, for them; and Colonel Thomas, with a praise- 
worthy attention to the comfort and health of his men, wish- 
ing to lighten, as much as possible, their duties and service. 

Thursday, October 1st. Leaving camp early, we passed on 
over a country fertile, but of a more sandy nature than be- 
fore ; soil still black, and covered with tall grass ; — no fields 
or houses along — all uncultivated. Extended spaces of prai- 
rie, were covered with a species of dwarf sunflower, about 
four feet high, giving them a bright yellow color. Deer were 
more numerous than before, and another general chase, like 
that described a few days previous, took place in the fore- 
noon. It was a wild scene ; so many horsemen at full speed, 
in all directions, after the frightened deer ; many near, and 
many far away. It required but a small stretch of thought 
to imagine them a tribe of wild Indians in full chase on the 
prairie. They were very successful in running down and 
killing the deer. The horses seemed to enjoy the sport, in 
the cool morning air, as much as the men ; snorting and 
champing their bits, when held up, eager to be off with the 
others. Some of the men, carried away with the sport, got 
so far from the regiment, that they did not come up until 
long after we had encamped for the night. 

At one, P. M., the advance crossed the road leading from 
Matagorda, on the south-east, to San Antonio, on the north- 
west ; and at two, reached the encampment, on a pretty little 
brook, near to a plantation called North's, in the county of 
De Witt, one mile east of the Gaudaloupe river ; where was 
fine grass, and plenty of corn and fodder for our horses, and 
good beef for ourselves. The cattle, in this section of coun- 
try, for size and beauty, cannot be excelled in the United 
States ; and, in fact, from here on, during the campaign, we 
saw no more of the small, scrubby stock found in the south- 
ern states, in Arkansas, and the north-eastern part of Texas, 

In the evening, we were agreeably surprised by the sud- 
den appearance of a member of our company, whom we 
had left at Memphis. We had given up the idea of ever 
seeing him again in the campaign. He had come by water, 



LANDS ON THE GUADALOUPE. 129 

via New Orleans and Lavacca, and had left that place the 
day before, on hearing of our approach. — He informed us 
that the reports we had heard, of the extraordinary sickness 
of the Kentucky cavalry there, were all false. — He also 
informed us that another member of our company was 
there, with letters for the most of us, directly from home. 
This was in reality good news, for every one was most anx- 
ious to hear from Tennessee. We became impatient to go 
on, but two days elapsed before the order so to do came 
back from Colonel Thomas, then at Victoria, thirty-five miles 
ahead. 

This intervening time we employed about camp, in obtain- 
ing information with regard to the country around. — The 
lands here were almost level ; plenty of timber on the 
branches and in the bottom of Guadaloupe (pron. War-loop) 
river. There is no water power, however, save that given 
by the rapid current of that river, which is said to be of 
force fully sufficient to drive floating mills, for sawing and 
grinding. Flat boats have descended this river from Gon- 
zales, sixty miles above this place, or ninety-five above Vic- 
toria. 

We fell in with an intelligent old man, who came down to 
the camp to visit us, who had resided about here for eighteen 
years, and was originally from St. Louis, in Missouri. He 
informed us that the lands on the eastern side of the river 
continued level and fertile to the coast, about sixty miles ; 
but the timber in that direction, (south), became very scarce; 
neither was there a sufficient supply of water in that sec- 
tion ; to the north, along the Guadaloupe, the lands became 
rolling and high, with excellent soil ; similar in all respects 
to the rolling prairies through which we had passed, having 
also upon them a sufficient quantity of good timber. — The 
climate, he stated, from his own experience and that of other 
settlers, to be healthy, quite so ; he having had, in a large 
family, for that long space of eighteen years, only one case 
of sickness ; — said the soil was first rate for cotton, and as 
good for corn — sugar-cane growing luxuriantly ; sweet pota- 
9 



130 DAVID CROCKETT'S RIFLE, "BETSY." 

toes also growing to a very large size ; (but that is the case 
in all sections of Texas). 

For stock farms, he said, the country could not be excel- 
led ; cattle, horses, sheep and hogs were fat the whole year, 
with little or no feeding, save the grass of the prairie. — 
Those of the settlers who raise cotton, ship it to New Or- 
leans, from Lavacca; and they get their "returns" in three 
or four weeks. The principal inconvenience is the distance 
of hauling, being from fifty to seventy miles ; but as the 
roads are level and hard, with no stone, this is but little 
trouble, save in the middle of winter ; when, for the last 
twenty miles, the large prairies towards the coast are almost 
impassable ; indeed quite so for a loaded team, on account 
of the deep mud and softness of the soil, when long wxt. — 
He related many anecdotes of the passage of the Mexican 
army through this section, and among other things, said that 
David Crockett's identical old rifle, " Betsy," was at a house 
in the neighborhood ; — that a few days previous to the storm- 
ing of the Alamo, and Crockett's death, he had lent it to the 
" Bee Hunter," who volunteered to carry an express from 
Colonel Travis, the commander, to the commanders of the 
other Texan forces ; and thus it was preserved when its 
owner fell. 

Saturday, October 3d. This morning we were ordered to 
saddle up and move towards Victoria. This order Ave exe- 
cuted quickly. A dense fog lay over the surface of the prai- 
rie, which so remained until about nine o'clock, when it lifted 
and cleared up. Shortly after the sea breeze arose, and the 
march of the day was very pleasant. This sea breeze, we 
were informed, blows here every day, and sometimes it ex- 
tends much farther to the north ; but this was the first time 
we had felt it ; — it was invigorating to all. 

At eleven o'clock, at the request of Captain Porter, a 
couple of us turned off with him, to a house on the bank 
of the river, to the right as we passed down. The captain 
was unwell, and wished the comfort of a bed, which there 
he quickly procured, and falling asleep, did not awake until 
late in the afternoon. This day passed very agreeably. 



ROUGH HOUSE. 131 

This house at which we had stopped, was on the high 
bank of the Giiadaloupe, some sixty feet or more above its 
waters. These flowed on below deep, clear, with a remark- 
able color of sky blue, which is noticed by every one, the 
first time that this river is seen. The bank was firm and 
rolling, covered with grass to the water's edge. On the opposite 
bank was a large growth of timber. In front of the houses, 
outside the strip of lofty live oaks, under which they were 
built, the prairie covered with long waving grass spread out 
level as the sea ; with here and there, at greater or less dis- 
tance, small clumps of oaks, of an acre or less, each widely 
separated from the others. They appeared like islands in 
the calm ocean. — It indeed was a beautiful spot for a residence. 
The house, however, was very rough; large forks, planted in 
the ground, were its corner posts. These supported other 
round timbers, that served as plates ; the roof rested on these ; 
the sides were of pickets, planted in the ground, and nailed 
above to the plate ; — the large cracks had loose boards nailed 
over them, — there were no windows, but the whole of the in- 
side was lighted by the doors. — The chimneys, at each end, 
were of the roughest sort of sticks daubed up with clay. 
There were no floors in the house, save the earth, which had 
been raised a little above that on the outside, and beaten 
with continued footsteps smooth. The doors, swung on 
wooden hinges, were of rude boards nailed together. — But in 
this habitation were a gentleman and lady, whose manners 
and polished appearance, fitted them to move in any society. 
— Neatly and fashionably dressed, — polite and easy in their 
bearing, they appeared the very reverse from those we ex- 
pected to see when we rode up. Their children were 
like them. — Their large, rude shell of a house, was filled 
with the finest furniture, tastefully arranged, but showing 
with it the most singular contrast. Rich curtains were 
so disposed as to hide the rough walls on the back, — while 
large pier-glasses reflected the objects before them. — A full 
and select family library was ranged in order, in one of the 
rooms, on shelves above. — The beds were hung with curtains 
white and neat ; — every thing of the household was connected 



132 PRICE'S CREEK. 

order and regularity. The negro servants were cleanly, and 
respectful in their demeanor. The houses of these were 
built in the same rude way as the mansion of their master; 
and all the other buildings around were in the same style. 

The owner of this place was a planter from Mississippi — 
had been here a year. We asked him no questions, with re- 
gard to his rough house, but supposed that on account of the 
difficulty, as yet, of obtaining here suitable lumber to build 
good ones, he chose to make the old shanty answer for a 
time ; for with all its rudeness, it had two good qualities, or 
rather three ; it was roomy, it was strong, and it was tight 
and secure against the rain. 

— When the sun was low, we mounted our horses and pro- 
ceeded on to camp, eight miles, on Price's creek. The march 
to-day, had been twenty miles. At night several of those 
who had been left at Little Rock, Washington, and other 
places, sick, now came up, recovered; many others, how- 
ever, are yet behind. 

Sunday, October 4th. We left camp at the usual hour. It 
again comingtothe author's turn to serve on wagon guard, he 
rode with that for the day. We were so delayed in getting 
the tents, mess-bags, &c., stowed into the wagon, that all 
the companies had filed out on the road and proceeded on ; 
and the bugles were almost out of hearing, before we could 
start. Every wagon in the train was off, and it seemed as 
though nothing would work right with us ; and when, at last, 
we did get off, we were forced to halt again to adjust and fix 
up the harness of the mules. We passed on through a skirt 
of timber, and came to the edge of the prairie, now extend- 
ing to the southward and eastward, a perfect level, without 
a tree in that direction to relieve the eye. Stretched out on 
it, in a long serpentine line ahead, were the different compa- 
nies of the regiment, small in the distance, with the train in 
the rear. As our company's wagon had six mules to it, while 
the most had but four, we were enabled to push ahead fas- 
ter ; and in an hour or two we came up with the rear wagon. 
We now skirted along, near the bank of the Guadaloupe, on 
Jthe right. 



"HOG-WALLOW" PRAIRIE. 133 

Over that river rose a range of hills, wooded to the tops. 
These must be pleasant situations for residences ; but, as 
yet, they are unsettled. The view from them is unimpeded 
to the east and south, for fifteen or twenty miles. We saw- 
one " settler," however, along here, — a large black bear ; — 
he lifted up his head, and for a moment looked at the troops. 
Several gave chase, and bruin " put out " into the river bot- 
tom and escaped them. 

The prairie over which we passed, to-da}^ is of the kind 
called " hog-wallow." It has a wavy surface, like a lake 
after a strong wind. These waves or ridges are rounding, 
about a foot in height, and ten or twelve broad, with a sink 
as wide between them ; — each wave is parallel to the next, 
or nearly so, though all are curving and somewhat serpentine 
in their course, and occasionally broken entirely. The un- 
dulations succeed to each other for hundreds and thousands, 
and even, in some places, for tens of thousands of acres 
together. We had never heard this form of surface satis- 
factorily accounted for. The old Mexican inhabitants of this 
country have a tradition handed down, which they say is 
true ; that is, that about one hundred and fifty years since 
there was a long drought, of several years' continuance, and 
that the prairies of this black soil parched, cracked or 
opened in gullies, a foot or two wide, and ten or twelve 
deep ; — that on the coming of rain again, they gradually filled 
up, but not entirely — showing the trace of the old chasms, 
which now are the intervals between the ridges. In corrob- 
oration of this, they say, that now, even in a common dry 
spell, that this kind of ground will crack to some depth. — 
Their account is given for as much as it is worth. One 
thing is certain : the " hog-wallow " prairies are all of this 
loose, black soil, and whenever that course of soil is inter- 
rupted, the " hog-wallow " ceases ; — but, on the other hand, 
we have passed over large tracts of the same soil, which 
was not broken by " hog-wallows," though, all of that was 
on the high, rolling lands. 

— After a pleasant march of fifteen miles, over this prai- 
rie, we came to our encampment. This march was ren- 



134 COMANCHE DEPREDATIONS. 

dered pleasant by the sea breeze now becoming stronger, as 
we approach the gulf of Mexico. The place of encamp- 
ment was on a clear brook, with a skirt of timber along its 
bank ; — being four miles north of the town of Victoria. — 
A little settlement, of five families, was made on this creek 
in 1837 ; but the Comanche Indians came down here sud- 
denly, and found them unprepared for attack; and every soul 
Avas killed. 

The Indians encamped on this ground, and the next 
morning proceeded to the little flourishing town of Linn- 
ville, ten miles to the south-east ; and, making a sudden 
and fm-ious attack, captured the place — killed the men, 
and carried many of the women and children away as pris- 
oners ; others, they killed on the spot. They robbed the 
stores and burnt the place ; — they threatened Victoria, but 
made no attack. On their return, they were met by a force 
of Texans, and a severe battle took place, in which the In- 
dians were worsted, but made good their retreat to their na- 
tive mountains. This tribe is powerful and warlike, nmnber- 
ing, it is said, near thirty thousand warriors. 

Moiiday, October 5th. This day's march was pleasant, 
though we endured some inconvenience for want of water ; 
the scenery was extensive, but presented the same view con- 
tinually, of level prairie, as far as the vision could reach, 
with no object to break the distant line of horizon around. 
Company G was on the march at an early hour, being, by 
order, the first company in line, to-day ; but early as we 
were, Captain Gillaspie's company had given us the slip, by 
silently, before day, taking up the march, in order to obtain 
the best encampment : for the regiment was to remain en- 
camped near Port Lavacca for several days ; and we had al- 
ready understood that there was but little shade there. 

We passed through the town of Victoria by sunrise. — The 
sound of our bugles waked up the inhabitants, who came to 
the doors and windows, to look at us, in numbers. — The place 
had not a very flourishing appearance. There were several 
stores, two or three taverns, court-house, jail, and mechan- 
ics' shops of various kinds. It seemed as though a little bu- 



VICTORIA. 135 

siness was here carried on. The town is situated near the 
Guadaloupe river, which the inhabitants hope will prove 
navigable for steamboats, as far up as that place. There is 
a printing office here, and a M'eekly paper issued. All the 
communication of the town with the sea coast, is done 
through Port Lavacca, which is situated thirty miles to the 
south-east, on Lavacca bay ; this distance is all over a level 
prairie. In the spring, summer and fall, it is an excellent 
road — one of the best that can be imagined ; — in the winter 
it is the very worst ; the mud renders it almost impassable. 
It is all of the " hog-wallow " prairie, and very little timber 
on its whole extent. — We did not halt in the tovi^n, but 
changing our course to the south-east, moved towards La- 
vacca. 

About nine o'clock, it became exceedingly hot on the prai- 
rie, but at ten the sea breeze rose, and gradually in- 
creased till towards evening ; rendering the traveling pleas- 
ant, though the continual passing over the ridges of the " hog- 
wallow " — up and down, up and down — was not, in itself, 
agreeable. 

The want of water being severely felt by many, a sergeant, 
with one or two men, M'as dispatched towards a skirt of tim- 
ber that appeared to our left, to find some, if possible ; they 
returned and reported that water had been there, but that 
there was none now. Shortly afterward, we met a long 
train of new wagons, all alike, and each drawn by three 
yoke of oxen, proceeding to San Antonio with government 
stores, for the use of the troops there. These were in view 
for several miles, before we met them, and on coming up, 
many of the men procured from the teamsters a drink of 
water from their large Mexican gourds ; we were told that 
four miles further, there was plenty of it. 

These four miles we passed over quickly, and came to 
Placedor's creek, a pretty brook, that wound along in a ra- 
vine in the prairie ; its bank covered with tall live oaks, hung 
with Spanish moss ; — several large springs, too, were near 
the creek. There was a splendid situation for a camp, along 
under the oaks on the bank, in its winding course, while be- 



136 CAMP PLACEDOR. 

fore, in the rear, and on each side, the wide prairies spread 
out, — an extent of waving green, across which, unobstructed, 
the gulf breeze came, cooling and refreshing. 

The different companies came in one after another, and 
took their places up and down, for two miles. The colonel's 
marquee was pitched on the top of the long rise, extending 
from the creek below, up to the level of the prairie. — 
Corn and oats had been hauled out from Lavacca, twelve 
miles to this camp ; and our horses having been well fed, 
we hastened to meet our comrades, who had come round by 
^vater. The meeting was pleasant, and rendered more so 
by the delivery of the number of letters they had brought, 
by which so many were enabled to hear from home and 
friends. 

A large circle of men were seated about, in the grass, al- 
most hid by it, reading attentively. — After strolling round 
over the prairie, we returned, each one to his line of tents ; 
and busy preparations were made in clearing away places 
for these tents and the horses, for the anticipated stay of a 
week or two. — The camp was called Camp Irwin, but went 
more generally by the name of Camp Placedor, from the 
creek ; — named after an old Indian chief, of the Tonkavvay 
tribe, still living, and well known in this part of Texas. 

Towards evening, we were surprised to see a body of 
troops in the distance, coming over the prairie to the east, 
toward us. When they came up, we found that they were 
three companies of the Kentucky cavalry, who were just re- 
newing the march for the Rio Grande ; they encamped with 
us for the night. — The remainder would follow in a day or 
two. — The regiment had been divided on account of the 
scarcity of water ahead. — Their camp, from which these 
came, was about ten miles below this. That regiment first 
encamped here, and then moved there to be nearer Port 
Lavacca. 

— We remained at this encampment until the 16th instant, 
repairing wagons, shoeing horses, and taking in stores, at 
Lavacca, for the next march through the prairie wilderness, 
and salt marshy desert ; — a distance of about three hundred 



PORT LAVACCA. 137 

miles to the Rio Grande. During this time the regiment 
were in a continual course, each day, of drilling and parad- 
ing — improving in the discipline of soldiers, which, as yet, 
we had had but little opportunity of doing, while on the 
march. — We made frequent visits, however, to the bay, and 
to the town of Lavacca, to enjoy the sea air and salt water 
bathing. 

— Port Lavacca occupies a position on the western side of 
Lavacca bay, thirty-five miles from the pass which connects 
the bay with the gulf of Mexico. The land upon which the 
town is placed is level, being the termination of the prairie, 
which extends uninterruptedly far into the interior. No 
stream of water runs nearer to port Lavacca than Placedor's 
creek, ten miles ; save a little dirty brook, which runs within 
four miles, called Chocolate bayou. This is unfortunate for 
the place, for no fresh water can be procured by digging. 
Cistern water is used, save that brought from Chocolate ba- 
you. It is probable, however, that at the distance of a mile 
or two from town fresh water might be got, by digging. 

The bay here, is wide, but shallow. No vessel drawing 
more than seven feet, can come up to the place ; and then 
is obliged to lie about a third of a mile from the shore ; 
part of this distance is passed over b}^ long wooden piers. 
The town, or village rather, is about fifteen or twenty feet 
above the level of the water, and contains thirty or forty 
houses, some half dozen stores, and several large warehouses. 
For the size of the place, there is much business done here. 
Notwithstanding its shallow harbor, its want of water, 
and the total absence of timber in the neighborhood, it must 
do the external trading of the counties of Victoria, De "Witt, 
Lavacca, Bexar, Gonzales, and parts of others, for the rea- 
son that, poor as is the situation for a town, there is, on this 
part of the coast, no better one, nor any as good. The fine 
lands of the interior of western Texas will be settled, and 
their trade must concentrate here. 

There is still another disadvantage of this place, w'hich 
has before been alluded to ; — that is, the muddy nature of 
the wide prairie around it, in the winter ; of which thirty 



138 PORT LAVACCA. 

miles must be crossed to get to the place in any direction ; 
but all these difficulties will be obviated, in some way or 
other, for Lavacca must be a place of trade. The health of 
the town itself is said, by those who have lived there, to be 
good ; and, judging from appearances, one would think that 
the strong sea breeze, that blows every day fresh from the 
gulf, would prevent the accumulation of any miasma ; but 
there are no local causes for that, for on one side is the gulf, 
and on the other the vast prairie. Decaying timber is out 
of the question, for wood, even for fuel, cannot be procured ; 
and every stick of building timber must be brought from 
New Orleans, Mobile, or other ports. 

The Dutch emigrants, who had been arriving here in im- 
mense numbers, and departing to their colony on the head 
waters of the Guadaloupe, had, many of them, died ; but that 
^vas owing to their sudden change of habits — from those of a 
long sea voyage, — living upon salt provisions — to the expo- 
sure to the hot sun of the prairies, and a change to fresh 
beef, of which, we were told, they ate on their first arrival, with 
great gluttony. — This will account for the extensive sickness 
among them. 

When we were at Port Lavacca, it was a busy place, for 
beside the arrival and departure of emigrants, the 1st and 
2d regiments of Illinois infantry, under colonels Hardin and 
Bissel, had landed there, together with a battalion of regular 
infantry, another of dragoons, and a battery of artillery. — 
These had all marched from this place to San Antonio, where, 
joined by the Arkansas cavalry. Col. Yell, the whole, num- 
bering about 3,000 men, made up the army of Gen. Wool. 

All the stores of provision, ammunition, and other things 
necessary for the support of such an army, in the long march 
over a perfect wilderness of hundreds of miles, which they 
were to perform, had to be landed and stored here, and trans- 
ported by land from this to San Antonio; and hundreds of 
teams were, for between two and three months, all busy in 
making trips back and forth between the two places. 
Beside this, the Kentucky cavalry and our own regiment, had 
been ordered here, and large amounts of stores had been sent 



PORT LAVACCA. 139 

for our use. The freight of the vast amount of stores re- 
quired, gave employment to many sail vessels and steam- 
boats — the storage and buildings necessary for these at La- 
vacca, gave employment to hundreds of laborers, — and the 
hauling of these stores and ammunition, &c., to San Anto- 
nio, one hundred and sixty miles, to hundreds of teams. — 
Teams came here to haul from middle and eastern Texas. 

All this going on, rendered the little town of Lavacca as 
busy a place as could be anywhere found. — Steamboats 
were puffing in the bay, arriving and departing ; — vessels 
were discharging, into smaller boats, their various cargoes ; 
— on the bluff, before the village, were large piles of wagon- 
bodies, — of wheels, of bow^s, of axletrees, &c.; — many me- 
chanics were engaged in placing them together, and these 
of every kind found plenty of work, and good pay. — Govern- 
ment warehouses were crowded with vast quantities of corn, 
oats, flour, bread, &c., — ship loads upon ship loads of them. — 
Every house, every square foot of sheltered room in the place 
was occupied by some one engaged at something. The 
large number of men in the quartermaster's department, 
were not able to obtain lodging in the town, but lived very 
snugly in a long row of marquees, with plank floors, situated 
on the very edge of the bluff, where their inmates could in- 
hale the fresh sea breeze just as it left the salt water, which 
was dashing against the shore beneath, with a continual 
noise. Many gamblers always are to be found about an 
army, and they were M'ell represented in number, as well 
as in black-leg skill, at this place. 

Taking into account the whole, officers, merchants, sol- 
diers, teamsters, mechanics, draymen, laborers, sailors, oys- 
termen, citizens, emigrants, aud gamblers, in all their opera- 
tions, in such numbers, and in such a small compass, Port 
Lavacca, at that time, was the most busy, crowded place we 
had seen. It was interesting to take a seat in the portico of 
one of the houses on the street, (for there is but one street in 
the place), facing the water, and observe the activity with 
which everything on the shore, and the vessels, went on ; — 
to see the boats going and returning from these vessels with 



140 EMIGRANTS. 

sacks of corn, or barrels of bread, and landing them, in large- 
piles, on the pier, from whence they were taken, by scores of 
laborers, and placed in larger piles on the bank ; — so large 
were these already, that a dozen of ship loads would not 
make one ; — while other vessels were throwing overboard 
horses and mules, who were swimming to the shore, and were 
conducted to the horse-yard, to join the multitude already 
there ; and all things else going on with an equal degree of 
briskness ; for the description of which there is no more op- 
portunity, more space having been given to this little town 
than was intended; — suffice it to say, that of all classes of peo- 
ple here collected, the emigrants made out the worst. Many 
of them, becoming sick by gorging themselves with fresh beef, 
oysters, &c., were left by their companions to get along the 
best way they could ; and that was badly enough, since not 
a few perished, like dogs, without attention. One was 
dying, when we first went in, in the street, in a wagon-body, 
where, on a little straw, he had lain for several days, exposed 
to myriads of green flies, which covered him ; and the living 
worms, their offspring, in countless numbers were eating and 
working into his flesh, even while the life was in him, and 
the power of speech had not left him. In feeling, compas- 
sion, or assistance to one another, the citizens informed us 
that the emigrants that had arrived, were about alike ; — that 
this man, perishing amid the crowd of his companions, uncared 
for, unassisted, was but one case among many, that were 
happening continually. 

During the ten days that the regiment remained at camp, 
most of the men who had been left sick at various places 
along, back on the route, came up ; but one died where left, 
Marsh, of Lenow's company ; — some were yet behind, who 
were very sick, and who did not come up for sometime after 
this. 

In a regiment as large as ours, of course, we had men of 
all grades of character and disposition ; and although nineteen-- 
twentieths, we had almost said, ninety-nine hundredths of the 
number, were men of determination and patriotism, who had 
volunteered to serve their country, and who never felt like' 



FEIGNING SICKNESS. 141 

■flinching from duty, yet there were some few, who were tired 
of the hardships of the life we led, from day to day, and 
who most earnestly wished to return home, and cursed them- 
selves for ever leaving their firesides. There was no 
chance for them, now, to help themselves. 

A number of the men, who, by sickness long continued, 
had become utterly unfit to perform their duties as soldiers, 
were, at this camp, discharged, and sent to New Orleans, on 
their way home. Some of these got well, on their return ; 
some died during the passage, or shortly after they arrived 
at their native places. Now, when these sick ones were 
discharged, it was amusing to see those others, first spoken 
of, endeavoring to appear sick ; — talking low, with short 
coughs, and groans, and dismal complaints of chronic affea- 
tions of the liver, head, &c.; refusing to eat but little ; and say- 
ing continually, to each one they met, "that they felt so 
badly." This was sport to the surgeons, who examined them, 
when they applied, and told them that they were sick truly, 
but that they could cure them better in the camp than by 
sending them home ; and directed them to take a cup of 
cold water, three times a day, or other such prescriptions ; — 
which commonly cured them, for nothing was heard of their 
sickness afterward. 

One of the men of another company than our own, in 
speaking of this, read, fz-om a letter that he had received, of 

Mr. , who came to Memphis with that company, and was 

there discharged on a plea of bad health, but whose real mo- 
tive was to return and marry a beautiful girl, who had en- 
gaged herself to him before his departure ; and who, while 
much grieved at the separation, yet was proud to see him 
xjome out at the call of his country ; — she had, with a fall 
heart, bade him" God speed," and hoped for his soon and hon 
orable return. — She was astonished to see him back so soon, 
and upon hearing his motive, indignantly refused to have 
anything farther to do with him. — Served him right. 

For two weeks before this time, we had had much more 
sickness in camp than before, and in the ten days we lay 
.-here, we buried four men, three soldiers, J. R. Haynes, 



142 BATTALIONS. 

McCorkle, Waddel,one teamster, and Page. The 

dead were buried in a lovely spot, on the rise of the green 
prairie, under the boughs of a large live-oak, whose heavy 
branches were covered with the long moss, that drooped in 
mournful festoons over their graves. 

Thursdoy, October IJjth. This morning we were ordered to 
strike tents and saddle up ; an order quickly performed. 
We were soon in line, and with the whole regiment drawn 
out on the plain. The five companies commanded by cap- 
tains Caswell, Lenow, Porter, Haynes, and Newman, being 
all armed with carbines, swords and holster pistols, were 
constituted the first battalion, under the immediate com- 
mand of Lieutenant-colonel Allison ; — the other five, under 
^ captains Gillaspie, Cooper, Evans, Marshall, and Goodnow, 
armed with rifles, were formed into the second battalion, un- 
der Major Waterhouse ; and as we were approaching the 
enemy's country, an order was made for the regulation of the 
future marches ; directing that they should be continually by 
battalions, and no longer, as before, by single companies ; 
the two battalions taking turns in advance, day by day, and 
preserving, in the march, the distance of a mile between 
them. 

In this order we took the road back for Victoria, through 
which we had come, having there turned off from the gen- 
eral course. The rear of the Kentucky cavalry left the 
town just before our advance arrived. We passed through 
the place to the Guadaloupe river, one-fourth of a mile be- 
yond ; and the first battalion immediately commenced cross- 
ing in the ferry-boat, twelve at a time, and encamping on the 
western bank, getting over by dark ; the second battalion 
halted and encamped on the eastern side of the river, to 
cross in the morning. 

The evening being pleasant and calm, but little attention 
Avas paid to pinning the tents firmly down ; — all laid down 
to pleasantasleep, — but were quickly aroused in the night, 
by the rude visit of another " norther," that came sweeping 
down, as some of the boys said, "but-end foremost," giving 
no warning. The lines of tents fell before it in an in- 



TARANTULA. 143 

stant, and their inmates, shivering in the cold blast, were 
out, thick as bees, getting them np again, and pinning them 
securely. After this was done, every one, as quickly as pos- 
sible, put on all the clothing they could carry, and, wrapping 
themselves up in their blankets, endeavored to sleep again ; 
but it was of not much use, — the cold wind was so strong, 
and the change had been so sudden, that no one could be 
comfortable, and there was not much sleep the remainder of 
the night. 

Friday, October IGth. This morning, the first battalion re- 
mained in camp, while the second commenced coming over 
the river, and after them the wagon train. This passage 
consumed the entire day. Some few more sick were sent 
back to Lavacca, to go around to the Rio Grande by water, 
not being judged, by the surgeon, to be able to stand the 
march through the wilderness. Many were so sent from 
Camp Placedor ; the commander of our company. Captain 
Porter, was of this number, and the company marched to the 
Rio Grande under the command of the first lieutenant. This 
day was cold, the norther still blowing, but more gently. 

One of the company caught a tarantula, and much atten- 
tion was given to his examination, by the men, although we 
had seen them, occasionally, during the march of two or 
three hundred miles back ; though none so large as this one. 

Imagine, reader, a large spider, with a body as large as 
half a hen's egg, and not much unlike that, in shape ; this 
connected, at the larger part, with the head, by a more slen- 
der middle, which, however, is very short, so much so, that 
the head, which is nearly as large as the body, apparently, 
at first view, joins it all around, — this head blunt and square, 
as it were, down in front ; — in the middle of this face is the 
mouth, running up and down from the bottom to the top, — 
large eyes, and body and head covered with a sort of bris- 
tles ; — and then, in all his ugliness, you have before you the 
tarantula, the king of the spider tribe. The bite of these is 
highly poisonous, often producing death. 

Another sort of "varmint" we came across occasionally, 
almost as hideous looking as the tarantula, but very differ- 



144 CENTIPEDES— SCORPIONS. 

ent in form, is the " centipede," or " sante fe," as the men 
called them. These reptiles are about six or eight inches long, 
composed of joints of a half inch in length; they are from 
one-half to three-fom-ths of an inch wide, and flat, or nearly 
so, on the back and belly ; the joints are hard, and have 
short, pointed legs at each corner of them, about twenty-five 
or thirty on each side ; — they are mingled in color, one joint 
being reddish, the next yellowish; — their jaws, or hooks, 
with which they bite, are, in appearance, like those of a bee- 
tle or " bess-bug," but large, strong, and sharp, taking large 
splinters out of any stick held towards them. 

Besides these, another beauty often forces himself into our 
company, though when we see him, he is sure to meet with 
a " warm reception ; " it is the scorpion ; (a species of lizard 
is, in the southern States, called by this name, but this rep- 
tile is entirely of another stripe) ; — it does not bite, but car- 
ries its sting in the end of its tail, which, composed of joints, 
is rolled up on its back. It has two claws in front, which 
are large, and give its body the appearance of a craw-fish, 
and it is about the size of one. When it stings, it faces its 
object, and brings its tail in a half circle over its back and head. 
— The sting is very poisonous, always making an adult very 
sick, and sometimes producing death ; — for a child, it is said, 
the sting is extremely dangerous. 

At sunset all the battalion was over the river, and most of 
the train, only a few wagons to cross in the morning. We 
were surprised to see coming into camp, from the west- 
ward, a sergeant and five regular dragoons ; — they bore a 
dispatch from General Taylor to Colonel Thomas. What 
could be the import of it ? was, in a few moments, the only 
question asked. Great was the curiositj'^ manifested among 
officers and men, to know General Taylor's intentions with re- 
gard to us. Many groups commenced giving their opinions 
upon, and discussing the subject. Some were loudly declar- 
ing that there was no need of our service, — that the war was 
about closed, and that the order was for us to be disbanded ; 
and this opinion they wished to back by bets. Others equally 
wise, contradicted the first, declaring as loudly that the war 



DISPATCH FROM GENERAL TAYLOR. 145 

was not closed, and that the order was for us to make a 
forced march, immediately, to join General Taylor, — and of- 
fered to take up the bets of the first. — Some of the officers 
were taking different sides, with regard to the matter, while 
the more sensible were willing to wait and find out the truth, 
before advancing an opinion ; — the wiser way ; for then they 
would not have to v/ithdraw an opinion expressed. 

After about three hours' suspense, the dispatch not requir- 
ing secrecy, the colonel made its contents known, much to 
the relief of the wondering. They were these : — in the first 
place, an order to turn from the road to Camargo, and take 
the one for Matamoras, as the plan of the campaign had been 
altered, and proceed tov^'^ards that place with reasonable 
speed ; and secondly, to take all care with the horses of the 
regiment; keeping them in order, as much as possible, du- 
ring the march through the wilderness prairie before us ; as 
shortly after our arrival at the latter place, we might calcu- 
late on being ordered upon active service. — This was the 
sum and substance of the dispatch. 

The escort that brought it, also brought one, partly of the 
same tenor, to Colonel Marshall, of the Kentucky cavalry, 
now ahead ; differing in this, that they were ordered to pur- 
sue the road to Camargo. Thus, the two regiments were 
separated, and never were together again during the cam- 
paign; (the ultimate effect, with regard to us, was, that we 
passed to the south of Mexico, under General Scott — to 
them, that they were retained in the valley of the Rio 
Grande, under General Taylor.) 

Saturday, October 17th. We left the camp at Guadaloupe, at 
an early hour. We marched over a pleasant country, but 
rather scarce of timber, and at noon encamped on a clear, 
rapid stream, called the Colette. The air had been blowing 
from the north for the whole day, and it had been quite cool; 
— large numbers of swallows, driven to more southern climes 
by the cold now coming on at the north, come flitting by us, 
on their long journey; the air was filled with them, and they 
appeared to us like old acquaintances, reminding us of home. 
Many large flocks of geese were flying over : and above them^ 
10 



146 COLONEL FANNIN'S INTRENCHMENTS. 

the larger ones of cranes, each one of which, in the two con- 
verging lines of every flock, seemed trying to outdo his fel- 
lows in squalling and squalling ; — and with the whole, they 
kept up a continual noise, that brought upon them, from the 
camp, the discharge of many rifles and carbines, and was the 
original cause of the transfer of many of their fat bodies, 
from the height of air, in which they had been exercising 
their vocal powers, to a more contracted situation in our 
camp-kettles, over the fires; — a change however, very grati- 
fying to us. — The wind from the north continued to blow 
quite cold, during the night, but having become more accus- 
tomed to it, it affected us but little, and we slept soundly. — 
Here we remained the next day, the 18th. 

Monday, October 19ih. This morning was quite cold. We 
were a little later than usual, in commencing the march of 
the day, — which delay was caused by our not being accustomed 
to march by battalion. We were on the road by seven 
o'clock. — Our march this day, was over a pretty undulating 
prairie, interspersed with large tracts perfectly level. After 
marching eight miles, we came to the level prairie, called in 
distinction the " Lost prairie." Another two miles brought 
us to the intrenchments, made by Colonel Fannin's com- 
mand of about 240 men, which they had thrown up to de- 
fend themselves against the attack of the Mexican General 
Urrea, with a large force of cavalry and infantry, and in 
which intrenchments he surrendered his command as prison- 
ers of war to the Mexican force, on Sunday morning, March 
20, 1836. This intrenchment, we afterward learned, was cut 
in the prairie on Saturday night, after fighting nearly the 
whole day previous. They, being surrounded, cut this with 
their bowie-knives, and scooped out the ditch around an area 
of perhaps a half acre ; which ditch was large enough to 
shield them from the balls of the Mexican force ; — but they 
had no water, and could get to none. Liberal terms being 
offered them, in writing, by General Urrea, they accepted 
them, and were marched back to Goliad, (from which place 
they were endeavoring to make a retreat). 

After looking at the last intrenchment of the unfortunate 



SAIif ANTONIO RIVER. 147 

Fannin, and his brave associates, we continued our march 
towards Goliad ; which was at the distance of six or 
seven miles. We soon passed over the prairie, the scene of 
the battle between Urrea and Fannin, and came to the roll- 
ing lands again ; which were covered with a low growth of 
nopal or prickly pear. We came in view of the ruins of the 
old mission of Bahia, on our left ; and shortly after passing 
one small grocery, and one farm house, the last habitations 
for some distance now, we came to the San Antonio river, a 
pretty stream, like the Guadaloupe, of blueish water, and en- 
camped on its bank, at two P. M., opposite to the ruins of 
the old town of Goliad ; — the encampment was pleasant, — 
fine grass, and corn abundant ; which we were glad to see, for 
it was to be our last supply. — His horse being sick, the author 
went to the plantation, about half a mile, to endeavor to ob- 
tain some articles recommended, in such cases, to relieve 
him ; for now he was his only chance, and he appeared 
about to die. At this place, however, he was fortunate to 
meet Mr. Owens, at that time the farrier of the company ; 
and he, taking the sick horse, in half an hour, to his great 
satisfaction, relieved him completely. 

Entering, then, into a conversation with the old gentleman 
of the house, we obtained much information with regard to 
this section of country. He described the soil as being, 
what it appeared, very fertile ; — the health of the country 
good, and its communications with the coast easy. The 
greatest objection to it was the want of rain. He described 
it as settled at wide intervals, along the eastern side of this 
river, the San Antonio ; but no settlements on the other, — 
the boundless prairie stretching out without an inhabitant. 
— Here, too, we fell in company with Judge Hunter, who was 
one of Fannin's command, and who escaped the massacre by 
almost a miracle. 

After spending two hours agreeably here, and the horse 
being entirely recovered, we walked back to the encamp- 
ment ; now with its tents all pitched, horses picketed, and 
fires burning. As it was yet early in the afternoon, many 
of us left the camp, and, crossing the river, ascended the 



148 RUINS OF GOLIAD. 

long slope, and proceeded to the ruins of Goliad : we passed 
away two hours, in walking through the ruined streets and 
squares, examining the old fortifications, &c., before we 
thought of returning. — The setting sun reminded us of the 
lapse of time, and we reluctantly started back ; determining 
if possible, to pay the ruins another visit in the morning. 
We fed our horses well, knowing that the corn now given 
them would be the last they would get for many days. 
After sitting up late, — for the day's march had been so light 
that no one was fatigued — we retired to rest. On this even- 
ing, the first regular regimental guard of sentinels, throughout 
the night, was set; for we were now on the very edge, if it 
could be so expressed, of the frontier ; and this river might 
properly be said to be the south-western boundary of the 
settlements of the republic of the United States. A long 
distance, truly, from this to the opposite one on the north- 
east. 

Tuesday, October 20th. This morning, the Colonel issued 
an order that no man should cross the river, until the wagon 
train was all over ; the ford being difficult, and the banks 
high, steep, and slippery ; so that there was a disappoint- 
ment, with regard to those of us who had laid off a visit to 
the ruins of Goliad ; — but shortly after, a wagon upset, in 
going up the opposite bank ; and Lieutenant-colonel Allison 
sent over for a detail of two men, from each company, to come 
over to get it up, — and, as good fortune would have it, the 
author was ordered to cross, which he did, taking all his 
arms and accoutrements with him so as not to be compelled 
to return. 

When we had got over, it took but a few moments to get 
the wagon up, and reload it ; and then, being free for several 
hours, we went on to the ruins ; which, judging from the 
continued howling that came from their dreary recesses, last 
night, now was the den of numberless wolves. — We had 
been annoyed, by these, every night, for some time back, but 
on the last night especially ; a little before day, the ruins, and 
the prairie all around us, seemed alive with them, making a 
most doleful noise. — Arriving on the spot, we examined the 



RUINS OF GOLIAD. 149 

whole at our leisure, knowing that it would take the whole 
day for the train and troops to cross the river. — From an ele- 
vated point in front, on the western part of the ruins,the au- 
thor sketched the old church of the place, in which Fannin's 
men were confined, — and of the fortification around it ; in- 
cluding a glimpse of the San Antonio river, at the bottom 
of the hill, and of the ruins of the old mission of Bahia, on 
the northern side of the river, and a catch of the distant land- 
scape ; which will be seen opposite page 150. 

The ruins of Goliad occupy much room, covering the top 
of the hill ; which, on one side, the north-east, looks down 
on the beautiful valley of the San Antonio, and on the other, 
the south-west, on the boundless prairie, stretching out, level 
as the' sea. The town having been built of stone, entirely, 
its ruins will last for a long time ; — the church will stand for 
ages. To walk through the ruined streets, with the old 
crumbling houses on either side, once densely populated, now 
with trees and tall weeds growing around them, — the hiding 
places of scorpions and other reptiles, and the concealed dens 
of wolves ; — to see the broken arches, once erected with care, 
— the fine work, amid universal decay, gives, to the mind of 
the thoughtful, a train of melancholy reflections. 

Amid the ruins, the old church, on the brow of the hill over- 
looking the valley, stands out, the strongest and most unin- 
jured. — Its situation was well chosen for extensive scenery. 
No valley can be more picturesque than that of the San An- 
tonio, which is stretched out below it. — Its walls, and lofty 
arched stone roof, are blackened by the smoke from the fires 
of those who, from time to time, have made it a stopping- 
place for a night. — Such it has been, for years, for every war 
or hunting party of Indians, who have come down over the 
prairie. The church, within, is eighty-one feet by thirty, and 
thirty high, to the arched roof; on the southern side, it has a 
vestibule, of thirty by thirty feet, and twenty in height ; — on 
the northern side, on either corner, is a projection, twenty by 
twenty feet, and each of the height of the main building; and 
the one on the north-west corner, cannot, by a view from 
that direction, be distinguished from the front. The lower 



150 RUINS OF GOLIAD. 

room, in this projection, resembles a dungeon, more than 
anything else. The roof of the whole, as said before, is of 
stone, and the flat top is made of that durable cement, of 
which the older Spaniards were so good manufacturers, and 
which we afterward had occasion to admire, in the massive 
works of southern Mexico. 

Adjoining the church was a fortified enclosure, (seen in 
the view), containing an area of about two and a half acres, 
and strong even in its ruins ; with round bastions at each 
corner, for the mounting of artillery, and loopholes along the 
walls. The front wall was composed of a block of stone 
buildings, about twenty-five feet high, one opening on the 
outside. On the thick walls of these ruined buildings, as 
well as on those of the body of the church, was much' finely 
sculptured stone work ; the remainder of the wall around, 
had been about fifteen feet high, and from three to four in 
thickness ; this, like the buildings, was broken. The old 
Mission, seen over the river, on the left of the picture, was 
in the same state of ruin ; but its roof was also gone; one 
gable end still stood up. — The stone of which this town and 
church was built, is somewhat of the nature of "rotten lime- 
stone," — is quite light in color, — quarries out regularly and 
easily, — is soft, when first quarried, but becomes hard 
on exposure to the air. (The same kind of stone, we saw 
afterward, was used for building throughout the northern 
part of Mexico, and in fact, more or less through all of our 
route ; many towns being built entirely of it. It is the most 
convenient building material they can use, — for the ease 
with which it is quarried is surprising, as also the perfect 
regularity with which the blocks split out. It is abundant, 
in almost every hill, from Goliad, on the north, to Tampico, 
on the south.) — The quarries, whence this stone was obtain- 
«ed, were outside the ruins of the town. 

This town of Goliad, was founded by La Salle, the great 
explorer, in 1682. It flourished for several generations, and 
once contained ten thousand inhabitants ; — now was entirely 
deserted. 

In the old church and fortification, were Fannin's men 



MASSACRE OF FANNIN'S COMMAND. 153 

confined, for a week previous to their massacre. — The whole 
of this business was an ill-judged, and unfortunate affair, 
on the part of the Texan commander ; and of the utmost 
brutality and treachery, on the part of the Mexican officers. 
—The whole of the responsibility of this bloody assassina- 
tion, of unarmed prisoners, rests with Santa Anna ; of 
which we will take notice. 

The history of the afiair, in a few words, is this : — Fannin, 
who had occupied this post for some time, determined to hold 
it, after he was apprised of the approach of a large Mexican 
army, and after, too, that army had, a month previous, ap- 
peared before the town of San Antonio, the next post, and 
shortly after, stormed the fortress of the Alamo, putting its 
garrison to the sword; when, besides, he had no provisions, or 
means of standing a siege. The road lay open for him to 
retreat, but he thought he could hold the place until he might 
be reinforced. He continued in his determination to hold 
the fort, until a strong body of cavalry and infantry under 
General Urrea, were on the march for the place, and close 
to it. And then, to cap the climax, in the face of this army, 
he altered his determination ; and, abandoning his strong- 
hold, attempted to retreat ; but too late ! — The little force 
had marched but four miles, when they were overtaken, and 
attacked ; and, in six miles, were compelled to halt and in- 
trench, without water, in the open plain ; and, of course, to 
surrender ; w^hich surrender was made on the morning of 
Sunday, March 20th, 1836, on condition that they should be 
well treated, and sent to the United States. — With two other 
detachments, under majors Ward and Miller, captured sepa- 
rately, in all about 420 men, they were confined in the church 
for one week ; when, on Sunday, March 27th, on the infor- 
mation that they were to be marched to the coast, to go to 
New Orleans, they were conducted, in three columns, out 
between lines of Mexican soldiers ; one column going east — 
one south, — and one west ; and, at given signals were sud- 
denly shot down, without warning; — from the butchery, some 
few endeavored to escape by running ; some of these were 
overtaken and killed; others finally escaped. — Colonel Fan- 



154 MASSACRE OF FANNIN'S COMMAND. 

niu was shot, in the yard, by himself; and the spots where 
the numerous balls struck the stone wall behind him, after 
passing through him, are still pointed out. 

When Fannin capitulated to Urrea, that General immedi- 
ately sent a dispatch to Santa Anna, then at San Antonio, 
informing him of the capture of the detachments and asking 
what he should do with the prisoners. — Instead of replying 
to him, to observe the terms of capitulation, that he, as com- 
mander of that division, had entered into with the prisoners 
according to the established rules of warfare, in civilized 
nations, Santa Anna, wishing them destroyed, but yet too 
cunning to have such an act laid at his door, wrote back no 
answer at all ; but sent to General Urrea a copy of an 
act of congress of Mexico to the effect that no prisoners 
should be taken, and that all persons, found in arms against 
the government, should be put to death. — Urrea took this 
as his answer. — Santa Anna, after his fortune had changed, 
upon being interrogated, with regard to this butchery, 
by President Jackson, at Washington, endeavored to deny 
that it was by his order or connivance that it had been 
done. 

He, who obeyed the laws of congress only when it suited 
his own convenience, and who was, in effect, a Dictator of 
all the laws, and who hesitated not, when his purposes re- 
quired it, to prevent that congress, by the point of the bayo- 
net from meeting, seemed suddenly to find himself under 
such strong obligation to an old law, that never had, in all 
their numberless revolutions been practiced, as to force him 
to command the barbarous, cold blooded murder of four hun- 
dred men; to whom the honor of the Mexican nation, about 
which he speaks so much, had been pledged in a fair and 
open capitulation, for the performance of that agreement, 
upon which they laid down their arms. 

He must violate all this, now that the prisoners were in 
his power, to satisfy that old law, to which he himself, sev- 
eral times, as a revolutionist, had been amenable, if it had 
ever been put in force. 

If it is said that he acted on the clause that had been passed 



SANTA ANNA'S IMPUDENCE. 155 

at the commencement of this Texan war, viz : " that no pris- 
oners should be taken ; " then, upon that, there was, even if 
he had been ever so scrupulous with regard to adherence to 
the law, no reason to justify the massacre of the prisoners ; 
for these had already been taken, under a solemn promise of 
the Mexican nation, so far as a commander of a separate di- 
vision of its army is the representative of that nation, of 
fair and honorable treatment. — No ! he wished them shot; — 
he cared not for capitulations. — He had killed ever}'- one of 
those found in the Alamo, after they, by ten days' hard and 
gallant fighting, had slain hundreds of his soldiers. — He 
wished these shot also ; but, as said before, wanted not the 
odium of the act ; and he therefore adopted a measure for 
that end, fully as effective as though he had sent a posi- 
tive order to General Urrea ; and then because he did not 
send such positive order, he has the impudence to endeavor, 
after his defeat, to exculpate himself from the responsibility 
of the deed. And what is more strange, is, to see an Ameri- 
can statesman and writer endeavoring to palliate the act, 
and excuse him in this occurrence, as well as others, endeav- 
oring, (to be sure not in direct terms), to make it out that it 
was unavoidable, on the part of Santa Anna.* 

Any American, who can excuse or palliate, on such a tri- 
fling pretext, this wholesale murder of his countrymen, this 
open violation of the most sacred capitulation, must have 
really a singular personal preference for the author of the 
outrage. — But we are digressing; and, merely mentioning the 
almost miraculous escape of Judge Hunter, from the massa- 
cre, we will return to our encampment for the day. — He was 
in one of the columns, when they heard the vollej^, from one 
of the others, that was sending his comrades to eternity. 
Quick as this was heard, the prisoners in that one suspected 
the truth, and one man, with a desperate resolve, broke from 
the line and ran. Several shots M^ere fired after him, but 
unavaiUng ; he escaped. At the same instant, the large 
column of the soldiery were ordered to fire upon the prison- 
ers ; which they did immediately ; and the line of unarmed 

* Waddy Thompson's Recollections of Mexico. 



15G HUNTER'S ESCAPE FROM MASSACRE. 

men fell before the fire. Hunter threw himself on the 
ground, in time to avoid it ; two of his comrades, in their 
death agonies, fell upon him, and covered him with their 
blood ; he remained still ; but moving a little, afterward, 
was discovered, stabbed, his throat cut, and his skull broken 
with the butts of their muskets ; and being stripped of his 
clothing, as the others, was left for dead ; but, despite his se- 
vere wounds, fate had not yet decreed his death. In the 
night, he came to his senses, and crawled off down to the 
river ; which he managed to cross, and after incredible suf- 
fering, got to the house of a Mexican woman, who dressed 
his wounds, and sent him off, under the charge of her son, 
on horseback, to a place of more safety, another Mexican 
family, on the Guadaloupe. Here they secreted him; and by 
good nursing, and strict attention, he recovered. 

The regiment having all passed over the San Antonio, 
together with the wagon train, — but too late to perform 
any march, — encamped on the western bank of the river. 
Corn enough was left, last night, to allow our horses five 
ears each ; which, though a small feed, was of great service 
to them. A strong guard was set, this night, around the en- 
campment ; and as this was always done in the same man- 
ner, the form will be here described. 

— The encampment was made as compact as possible. — 
The guard consisted of sixty men ; — these were divided into 
three equal numbers of twenty each, called first, second and 
third reliefs. The first relief was posted around, at equal 
distances, at eight, P. M.; each one with a short distance to 
walk back and forward, with instructions to let no one pass 
without the countersign, neither in, nor out. The countersign 
was a word selected by the colonel, or highest officer, and by 
him given to the officer of the day, (the one that, for the day, 
had control of the guard, and who saw to the general police 
of the camp), and was known only to him, the immediate offi- 
cer of the guard, and the sentinels. While the guard were 
thus posted, the first and second reliefs were sleeping at the 
guard fire, a short distance from the encampment, and on the 
line of surrounding sentinels. At eleven o'clock, the second 



RELIEVING GUARD.: 157 

relief was awakened by the sergeant ; they fell into line ; 
the list was called as made out the night before, and all 
were counted off; then the following commands and move- 
ments took place : 

Sergeant. Attention! second relief! — every one threw 
himself in the attitude of the soldier, erect, leaning a little 
forward. Carry — arms ! equivalent to " shoulder arms" with 
infantry. Right — face ! Forward (at this, every one rested 
on his right foot) — march ! every one stepped off with his 
left foot ; the relief moved on, with the sergeant at the head; 
in a few moments, the outline of the first sentinel could be 
seen in the darkness, and as soon as within a dozen paces or 
so, the sentinel challenged : "Who comes there?" The ser- 
geant replied, "Sergeant of the guard, with second relief!" 
Sentinel. " Second relief — halt ! — Advance, sergeant, and 
give the countersign." The relief halted, the sergeant ad- 
vanced near to the sentinel, and, in a low voice, gave the 
countersign ; which, this night, was " Fannin." This being 
right, the sergeant turned to the relief; — "Advance relief!" — - 
they advanced up to the sentinel ; — " Halt !" No. 1, the first 
in line, then receiving from the sentinel all his instructions, 
and, in a low voice, the countersign, took his place, and the 
sentinel relieved fell in the rear, and followed on. Coming 
in view of No. 2, the same thing occurred, — and so on, through 
the whole, and back to the camp fire, where all the relieved 
guard lay down to sleep. At two o'clock in the morning, the 
third relief was awakened, and in the same manner relieved 
the other ; they standing until daylight. 

The author, on the regimental guard, at this time, was, with 
the others from company G, on the second relief, and stood 
his turn from eleven to two o'clock. The night was very 
dark. — There were many small gullies on the prairie, and 
these were hidden by the tall grass, so that he could not see 
them ; and, in walking his distance, about sixty yards, back 
and forth,he fell into them two or three times ; but his vexa- 
tion, at this, was turned into suppressed laughter, at heanng 
his next comrade floundering out of one, only to fall into an- 
other ; there being more of them on his ground. He picked 



158 SOLDIER ON GUARD. 

himself up, two or three times, without saying anything ; — 
then began to swear, " not loud, but deep." His muttered 
oaths were hardly out, before he went in again. " This is a 
pretty place to put a fellow, this time of night," soliloquized 
he, as he felt his way along ; "shall break my neck, sure, be- 
fore we're relieved. — Ah ! here is another ; — did'nt catch me 
that time ; — if I had a candle, I could come it. — No need of 
a guard along here, any how. — If any of the Comanches, 
Lipans, Mexicans, or any other of the c-s-d red skins should 
come here, they could not get into camp ; for they would 
break every one of their d — d necks, in these gullies !" — 
Down he went again, as he finished his sentence, his gun 
striking heavily on the ground ; — as he got out, — "D — m the 
gullies," he said ; — " what's the use of walking back and 
forward, any way ; — I won't do it ; — I'll stay right here ; " — 
and there, in one spot, he did stay. 

Wednesday, October ^Ist. This morning, we of the guard 
were roused about daylight ; the third relief was taken off, 
and all forming into line, were, after a delay of a few mo- 
ments, dismissed, for half an hour, to get our breakfasts ; we 
then met again ; one-half, under a lieutenant, took up the 
line of march, as the advance guard ; — the regiment then fol- 
lowed, in its separate battalions ; — then the wagon train 
wound its slow course along; — following that, the remaining 
thirty of us, under Lieutenant Kirk, came as rear guard. 

We had been passing, for some time, through a section of 
country very thinly settled ; sometimes ten, sometimes 
twenty miles from house to house ; but now there was no 
residence for eighty miles, to San Patricio, on the Nueces 
river. Our general course, from Memphis to Goliad had 
been south-west, save the short diversion south-east, to La- 
vacca, and the return therefrom, to the main route ; now we 
turned more to the southward, pursuing, from this place to 
San Patricio, a course nearly due south. 

We were directed by Lieutenant Kirk, to ride up and down 
the banks of the river, to see that no loose horses were left, 
and that all persons were off. We did so, but finding no 
one, we formed in two's and followed the regiment, now 



EFFECT OF LIQUOR. 169 

about two miles ahead. We passed directly through the 
ruins, and descending the hill on the south-east side of the 
romantic valley of the San Antonio, entered the dead level 
of the prairie, v^^hich lay spread out apparently boundless; 
and from the east, by the south, to the west, not relieved, in 
its distinct outline on the horizon, by a single tree or any ob- 
ject of elevation. After marching some four miles, we came 
to one of the men, sick, near the road side ; but although he 
had a severe chill, we were obliged to take him on, for it 
would not do to leave him to come up, as by the report of 
the Kentucky cavalry, sent back, we had reason to believe 
that a large war-party of Comanches were hovering on the 
prairie. 

In another mile, we came up with the rear of the wagon 
train ; and as we were compelled to keep behind them, the 
Lieutenant ordered a halt ; and we stretched ourselves out 
in the grass, for an hour, while the wagons gained distance 
ahead. — We then remounted. — We had several prisoners in 
custody, the reason of which was, that there had been whisky 
to sell near the camp, at the river, at the single grocery spoken 
of, and several quarrels had taken place. One of these, still 
under the strong effect of liquor, became so unmanageable, that 
it was hard work to get along with him. — On this day's 
march, no good water was found ; — a few warm pond-holes 
were passed. — The soil was alternately rich and black, and 
then sandy and poor ; no timber at all, until at the close of 
the day, we arrived at a long skirt of scrubby post-oaks ; and 
beyond them was a pretty creek of pure water, where the 
regiment encamped. — Here, too, was fine grass. — Each one 
tied his horse out by a long rope, called, in this country, and 
by the Mexicans, a " lariat ;" for the grass was all we had 
for them. — March, this day, about thirty miles. 

Our time, as guard, being out this evening, a new one was 
detailed for the next twenty-four hours. We of the old 
guard, under our officers, were drawn up in line about sunset ; 
then came files of men, from each company, who were to 
supply our places ; each file being under the command of 
an orderly sergeant; these fell into another line, at a little 



160 PRICKLY PEAR. 

distance from us, each sergeant delivering to the adjutant 
the list of the names of the men from his company. — These 
were embodied; — the new oflicer of the day appointed, — and 
the arms of the new guard inspected, and loaded ; — then 
formed into ranks ; and wheeling, came down by our line of 
the old guard and, being saluted by us with presented arms, 
they passed to the guard tents ; — took possession of them, 
and the charge of the prisoners ; while we were marched 
off to the edge of the encampment, and brought to a front- 
face ; and by the regular commands, " ready ! — aim ! — fire," 
the guns were all discharged, and we were dismissed. 

The details, for the guard, were made in each company in 
alphabetical order ; so were those for wagon guard ; and at 
this time, in our company, those who came on regimental 
guard one day, were sure to be on wagon guard the next day 
or the day after. 

Friday, October 23d. Yesterday, Thursday, we marched 
twenty miles over the level prairie ; and this morning we 
were again early on the route. The way was long and 
weary ; the sun was quite hot, and there was no breeze ; the 
columns raised heavy clouds of dust, which were extremely 
uncomfortable. — We marched thirty miles, over a perfectly 
level prairie ; no timber; fine grass, and abundance of prickly 
pear ; the fruit of this is shaped like a pear, smaller, how- 
ever, of a red color, and agreeable taste ; — it is hard to get, 
though, for the thick leaves are covered with barbed thorns, 
long and keen as needles ; and when they enter the skin, 
they are diflicult to pull out. We had passed innumer- 
able deer, to-day, and many of them were killed ; we saw 
also several wild horses. A beautiful large claybank, with 
snowy white mane and tail, came up near us, holding his 
head high, to examine us ; this he continued a few mo- 
ments, when, as if satisfied, he bounded away, leaving a 
long trail of rising dust behind him. 

At four P. M. we arrived at the little village of San Patri- 
cio, — if three stick houses, daubed with mud, can be called a 
village ; — though they looked well, to us, not having seen a. 
house in three days' traveling. The families here were Irish ;, 



NUECES RIVER. 161 

how they had ever got into this wilderness, was more than 
we could account for. — The word San Patricio, is the Mexi- 
can method of expressing the name of the well known Irish 
saint, St. Patrick. — The village is about half a mile north 
of the Nueces river ; — on this was a ferry boat ; the last on 
the route. The advance guard, and the 2d, or Rifle battalion 
commenced the crossing immediately, while the first was 
ordered to encamp on the northern side, which aflbrded but 
poor grass, and a bad chance to get water from the river on 
account of the steepness of the banks. 

Venison was plenty in camp, at night ; deer enough hav- 
ing been killed, during the day, to supply the whole regiment 
with sufficient fresh meat for the supper and following 
breakfast; — to this, many added fish, from the river; 
where they caught large numbers, with but very little trouble. 
— The Nueces is a deep stream, with a rapid current, and in 
most places, with high banks. — It is said, that it can be nav- 
igated up as far as this place, if not much farther. 

Saturday, October 24th. The 2d battalion having all got 
over the river yesterday, the 1st commenced crossing early 
this morning ; — the miserable shackly ferry boat, was used 
to take the wagons, the arms and accoutrements, and men 
over ; the horses all swam across. The passage was so 
slow, that it was near sunset when the last got over. — A de- 
cided change Avas seen in the appearance of the lands on the 
other side of the Nueces ; instead of the dull, perfectly level 
prairie, the land rose in lofty swells, with beautiful valleys 
in every shape, — extensive views, — little lakes of water, — 
^reen grass, and beauty in every object. — Here were groves 
of timber; the first we had seen for several days ; and the 
quality of the grass was such, that our half starved horses 
did not apparently know when to cease eating. 

The encampment was in a beautiful situation, on some 
little hills, ten miles below the ferry. The water of the river 
was pleasant to the taste, and for bathing, and many went 
into it. The change of scenery produced a correspond- 
ing change in our feelings ; for the last three evenings 
all had been dull; there was no life, no spirit, no enjoyment; 
11 



162 CORPUS CHRISTI. 

but this night all were in better humor. They got their sup- 
pers, on getting to camp, but did not lay down to sleep until 
late. Thousands of wild geese flew over the camp ; and the 
way that Uncle Sam's rifle and carbine cartridges were used 
up, for about an hour, was by no means slow; the colonel, 
however, stopped the sport of firing, after that time. 

Sandaj/, October 25th. Our colonel having determined 
to leave the direct road to Matamoras, and go by Coi-pus 
Christi, to take Gen(iral Taylor's route, we turned to the east, 
directly down the river, and marched along its meandering 
course, over pretty fertile plains and wooded hills ; here 
and there coming to the river, which, at last wound its way 
in a serpentine course, eastwardly, into the heart of a vast 
body of marshes, that spread out before us, and looking from 
the hills, like a silver thread, in their distant bosom of green, 
so fresh and so extensive ; beyond these a narrow line of 
blue, dark and even, showed the salt waters of the bay ; — 
the breeze from this, over the marshes, came cooling and in- 
vigorating. 

At two P. M. after marching twenty-five miles, we came 
out on a high bluff", overlooking a splendid prospect of sea 
and land; — the wide bay, with its blue waters curled by the 
strong sea breeze in breaker caps of foam, stretched out to 
the right and front, and came round, with a long sweep, to 
the left ; enclosing, on that side, a pretty little peninsula of 
flat, white shell beach ; between the left and front, on this 
peninsula, directly below us, was the former encampment of 
the army of occupation, under General Taylor ; — there they 
remained many months, awaiting the action of Mexico for 
peace or war. On the edge of the bluff before us, as it com- 
menced its fall down to the beach below, was part of the 
town of Corpus Christi, — or in English " Christ's body." 

The column moved on, and we came to the commence- 
ment of the descent, and could see all the plain below. — 
There was the principal part of the town, which before had 
been concealed from our view. It was now below us, on 
the same white shell beach as that, which, on the left, at the 
distance of a mile, formed the peninsula, of the camp. The 



GENERAL TAYLOR'S OLD CAMP. 163 

waves broke in ceaseless roar and foam upon it, rushing up 
to the road below. One small schooner rode at anchor in 
front of the town. The halt here commanded, for a few 
moments, Avas rendered pleasant, by this fine view and by 
the coolness of the sea breeze. 

The town itself was small. Overlooking the whole, we 
could count every house; there were not more than thirty or 
forty there ; one or two quite pretty places. One, the re- 
sidence of Colonel Kinney, who afterward accompanied us 
through Mexico, was a very neat and tastefully fitted up 
house, though small. — The wagon train coming up, we de- 
scended the long slope, to the left of the town, down to the 
shell beach ; turning to the left, we went on the peninsula. — 
The beach was hard, and on its smooth surface, where the 
waves were beating, the tread of the horses made no impres- 
sion. 

We arrived at Taylor's old camp ; — found it enclosed by 
walls of this shell earth, thrown up to keep off the continued 
force of the sea breeze. The space included within the out- 
side parallel walls was separated into many long and nar- 
row divisions ; one for each company ; — these were directly 
into our hand, as the saying is ; but Ave found that each had 
been intended for a company of infantry, and Avere not large 
enough for us ; and Ave Avere uncomfortable, for want of space 
within ; beside, the wind coming in fitful gusts oa- er the walls, 
which were thickly set with brush, on the top, blew the 
smoke from our fires so densely in our faces, that we pre- 
ferred much to be out in the strong AAdnd. 

After encamping, Colonel Thomas had all the corn and 
oats purchased, that could be procured in town ; but that 
was only fifty sacks ; which gave each horse five pints. He 
then sent the little schooner over to St. Joseph's Island, thirty- 
five miles, to obtain forage at the goA'ernment's stores there. 
She returned, late in the night, Avith fifty more sacks, all she 
could bring, and Avent again. The men of the regiment who 
had been so fond of bathing, noAV had a fine opportunity to 
plunge and dive in the pure waters of old ocean himself; 
and hundreds were in the Avater, up and down the beach, at 



164 CORPUS CIIRISTI. 

once ; almost every one had his horse in, too ; and that even- 
ing, the horses were cleaner than they had been for months. 

To most of the men, the salt w^ater was new, and when 
they went in, they took soap with them, and applied it to 
their bodies, heads, whiskers, &c., liberally ; and, of course, 
these were presently covered with pure grease ; (for in put- 
ting soap into salt water, the alkali, or potash, of the soap, 
leaves its combination with the grease and unites with the 
salt acids of the water, and the grease remains upon every 
article touched with the soap). The heads of some of 
these men were soon stuck in a mass, with the grease ; 
while others had their fine whiskers, upon which they 
prided themselves, stuck together. — Several were along the 
shore, with articles of clothing, at the same time, endeavor- 
ing to wash them with it ; but all soon found that salt water 
and soap did not work well together. ' 

Many of the men went up into the town, and soon procur- 
ing plenty of whisky, some got deeply under its influence ; 
and returning, made much noise in camp at night. 

This little town of Corpus Christi had several stores in it, 
with assortments of goods ; at which, at first sight, one was 
surprised, and knew not where, in such a place, a market 
could be found for them ; — but this had been for several years, 
and was now, the principal mart of commerce for those Mexi- 
can traders, who had for some time driven an extensive and 
profitable business by smuggling goods into their country ; 
these goods being rendered so high, by the Mexican tariff* of 
duties, that the profits of these traders were often from five 
hundred to a thousand per cent. — For these were the supplies 
of dry goods, chinaware, hardware and almost everything 
that can be purchased elsewhere. But, it is said, that this 
trade will, hereafter, be diverted from here to Point Isabel ; 
— the harbor, there, is so much better, and it is also nearer 
to the Rio Grande. 

No vessel, drawing more than three and a half feet of 
water, can come over the mud flats of Corpus Christi bay. 
The country back of Corpus Christi, so beautiful and fertile, 
Along the Nueces, must, hereafter, be thickly settled ; though 



MUSQUIT TREES. 165 

timber will be somewhat scarce; but those extensive prai- 
ries, of eighty miles width, from the Nueces, back to San 
Antonio, never can, or will be settled; for there is a great 
scarcity of water ; — in one place over which we came, four 
or five days since, there was a tract of thirty miles, without 
a drop ; — more than that, there is a total want of timber ; 
nothing of that description growing, save thickets here and 
there, of musquit bushes ; — this section is the northern limit, 
of that growth, and is too far south for the common timber 
trees of the north. 

The citizens, here, had hopes that the town would yet be 
of some note ; but not much reason for such an expectation 
could yet be seen. We found, in this place, a part of a 
company of Texan Rangers ; the remainder of which were 
at San Patricio. They were under the command of Captain 
Wright. They scoured this section of country, guarding it 
against the hostile attacks of Mexican robbers, on one hand, 
and bands of the roving Comanches on the other. They 
were well mounted, — in the employ of the government, and 
were armed with rifles, pistols, and bowie knives ; — were ef- 
ficient and valuable troops, on this vast frontier. Their per- 
formances in another sphere, at Monterey, have already been 
noticed. 

Monday, October 2Gth. This day, at noon, we resumed our 
march, after receiving two and a half quarts of corn each, of 
that brought by the boat, last night, for our horses. As she 
could not bring it in half the quantity, or even the one-fourth 
part needed, the colonel ordered the regiment away into the 
prairie, on the route, where the horses could, at any rate, 
get some grass. We marched twelve miles due south, (for 
Matamoras lies in that direction from Corpus Christi), and 
encamped at some water holes, of tolerable water. — We 
passed through thickets of musquit brush- wood ;— this is a tree 
of thick and irregular branches, somewhat resembling the wild 
plum tree of our own country ; — the wood is hard, and, in 
color, resembles cedar ; — the twigs are all very strong, and 
each one covered with keen and long thorns ; — so many are 
there of these, that, if detached from the twig, and each 



166 CHAPPARAL. 

weighed, the twig itself would be found the lighter; — thou- 
sands upon thousands of them are firm on every bush ; — the 
leaf is like that of the locust, in shape, but very small. We 
found a great quantity of this musquit ; from this place 
through the remainder of the route, in Mexico, wherever any 
timber could be seen, musquit was to be found ; — thereafter, 
it was, for the most part, our only fuel. 

As the word " chapparal " will no\V be often used, the rea- 
der will understand that it signifies a close growth of this 
musquit ; which, from its innumerable small branches inter- 
locking, all covered with these thorns, joined with the great 
firmness and rigidity of the twig, makes a passage through it 
very difficult ; and sometimes, especially when large bodies of 
prickly pear are growing beneath, absolutely impracticable. 
In such a case, a person cannot see into it twenty feet. 

Tuesday, October 27th. We remained at the encampment 
all this day, waiting for the v»'agon train ; which had stopped 
at Corpus Christi, for the arrival of another load of corn, by 
the little schooner mentioned. It rained this day, for the 
first time in eight weeks, upon us. We had been very for- 
tunate in having so little rain, while, for so long a distance, 
we have marched through the low, flat section adjoining the 
coast ; which we can see is extremely muddy, at times. — 
We feared that the rains were now about to set in, and that 
we should see sights with mud, with horses fed only on 
grass. — The prairie, from this day's rain, became very muddy. 

The men went hunting ; — were gone but a little while, 
before they brought in deer in numbers, more than we had 
any use for. Probably a hundred or more were in camp that 
evening. The hunters reported the prairie, a mile or tw^o to 
the right and left, as alive with herds of deer ; — some of 
them asserted that a thousand must have been in view at 
one sight. 

— One of our mess-mates M^ent out ; — quite a spruce, hand- 
some young man ; very attentive to his personal appearance 
at all times ; — he returned, having met a customer in the 
shape of a pole-cat ; which, after a battle, routed him. He 
returned to camp, bearing with him a strong odor, not quite 



ALARM OF ENEMY AHEAD. 167 

SO agreeable as the fragrance of the " spicy breezes " that 
" blow soft o'er Ceylon s isle ; " but, in fact, so very repugnant 
to the senses, that, as he entered the tent, we got out as fast 
as possible ; while the odor, disseminating itself rapidly, 
brought from all the tents near by, the general exclamation 
of pole-cat ! pole-cat ! whew ! faugh ! and other such ex- 
pressions of gratification, very much to the young man's an- 
noyance ; — he soon disrobed himself of his dress, and, by 
every means, endeavored to free himself from the fragrance, 
that drew such universal attention. — Buffalo ranged here, 
sometimes, though we had not seen any. — A large skull of 
one found on the ground served us here for a seat in the 
tent. 

Wednesday, October 28th. This morning, we were all on 
the march at an early hour, the first battalion in advance ; — 
the advance guard about a mile and a half or two miles 
ahead, on the prairie. We were marching on in lively spir- 
its, when suddenly back, at full speed, came an express from 
the advance, saying that a large body of horsemen were in 
front, drawn up in line of battle. As soon as this message 
was delivered to the officers, quite a scene took place. — The 
regiment was immediately formed in column, by sections of 
eight; — the wagon train halted; — it was amusing now to hear 
the questions and exclamations. — Carbines were examined and 
loaded ; — the flints of rifles picked ; — but some had none, and 
were inquiring eagerly of all around them for a spare flint — 
others for cartridges. The great object of inquir}^, in the car- 
bine battalion, was for percussion caps. " Confound those 
deer," one said, " I have used up all my caps ; will you give 
me some caps, Sam ? " " Haven't got but few." "Jim, give 
me a cap." " I can't do it." " Who has got spare caps?" 
" I have got some ; but I shot all my cartridges away at those 
d — d geese." " I'll swap with you." "Well, good." "Who 
can give a cartridge," says another. — "Cartridges ! cartridges ! 
who has got spare cartridges !" said many in a breath; while 
many more were for caps ! caps ! flints ! These w^ere imme- 
diately handed around from the ammunition wagon, and 
every man quickly supplied ; — and in less time than it would 



168 BATTLE OF THE MUSTANGS. 

take for the writing', every gun and pistol was loaded, car- 
bines unslung, and the order was given, — "Attention — bat- 
talion ! Forward — move ! " and on we went. 

The colonel rode along the ranks ; — " Keep cool, boys ! — 
There is a body of Mexican cavalry there ! — Take good aim, 
and be sure and fire low ! — Don't throw away your shots ; " — 
(at this, bang ! went a gun close by us ; — whiz-z-z went the 
ball. — We looked, and preacher Smith, of our company, had 
let his go in advance, carelessly. This brought a loud and se- 
vere reprimand from the lieutenant-colonel) ;— in the mean- 
time, in solid body, we were approaching nearer the advance 
guard, which had remained halted. 

Presently, a heavy cloud of dust announced the rapid ap- 
proach of the enemy. — They came up near, and with a 
quick and well executed movement, Avheeled into line, and 
halted ; — the dust blew off, and they were plainly to be seen, 
on the right ; — whe'i, lo ! they were a large herd of wild horses, 
or mustangs, which, with their numbers and regular move- 
ments in the distance, had induced the advance to consider 
them enemies; — having been prepared for this by the repre- 
sentations of the Rangers, back at Corpus Christi, whose 
captain had informed Colonel Thomas, that the approach of 
the two regiments, our own and the Kentucky, through 
the wilderness, was known to the JMexicans, as well as the 
Americans ; and that he need not be surprised if Canales, 
one of the Mexican generals, and a robber, should cross the 
Rio Grande and attack the regiment, hoping to find it unpre- 
pared. — All this, we afterward found, was perfect idle talk ; 
but then we had no information by which to judge of its cor- 
rectness. Hence, the alarm quickly taken, on the appear- 
ance of these wild horses. — These stopped but a moment, 
and were off out of sight. Amid jokes and laughter, we re- 
sumed our double files, took the caps from the carbines, and 
moved on. 

To the transaction, the name of " the battle of the mus- 
tangs" was immediately given, and continues in the mind 
of every member of the regiment by that name. We arrived 
soon after, at a creek running through a deep ravine. (This 



ORDER OF ROLL CALL. 160 

is named on Mitchell's map as Olmos creek ; but the Mexi- 
cans called it by a different name — which, however, slipped 
the author before recorded.) — Here we encamped for the 
night. Ther.e was but little grass here, and that was dead ; 
and our horses made out poorly. 

This evening, a Mexican rode into camp, bearing a letter 
to Colonel Thomas, from Matanloras; and he stated, also, that 
there were Comanches on the prairie ahead. — The country 
had now lost that rolling appearance, mentioned as being 
met with when we crossed the Nueces ; it became more 
level, during this day's march. 

Thursday^ October 2^t]t. This morning we were soundly 
asleep, when the loud notes of the bugles rang clear ; — 
every soldier, as usual, in the morning, started, rubbed his e}' es 
and yawned, waiting to hear the orderly sergeant's voice, which 
commonly followed the last note of the bugle ; after an interval 
of about one minute, we heard it; "Eagle Guards ! turn out to 
roll call ;" and the soldiers, half awake, came out of the tents 
and took their places in line. The orderly had his eyes but 
half open, but with the routine so perfect, he could go through 
it asleep. He called out, "Fall in on the left! Look to the 
right and dress ! " When the line was formed and dressed, (or 
straightened) and the officers were in their places before it, the 
orderly opened his book and commenced the roll; calling the 
name of the captain, then the three lieutenants, then the 
sergeants, then corporals, then farrier and blacksmith, then 
privates, alphabetically. Those who were present, an- 
swered ; if one had not got in line, he was crossed, and the 
next day put on wagon guard for it. After the roll was 
called, the sergeant read the list of those whose turn it was 
to serve on regimental guard, coming alphabetically, and 
then the names of those whose turn in the same way it was 
to serve on wagon guard. He then commanded, " Regi- 
mental guard, report under Sergeant at the guard 

tents," at seven o'clock, or sunrise, or whatever hour might 
have been designated. " Wagon guard, be at your posts at 
the wagon at ' saddle call.' " The orderly having got through, 
gave- up the command to the senior company officer present, 



170 ORDER OF ROLL CALL. 

who, if be had anything to say, said it ; and then came the 
command, " Company — Right face ! Dismissed ! " The line 
broke in every direction, — and all scattered; one out of each 
mess, whose day it was to cook, went to getting breakfast 
for his mess, the others to feeding and rubbing their horses, 
&c., &;c. The regimental guard repaired to the guard tent. 
The ceremony of guard mounting was gone through with and 
then all were dismissed to breakfast. This done, the bugles 
then sounded, " saddle up," and the new regimental guard 
from each company, again assembled at the same place, were 
formed in line and divided into the advance and rearguards. 
The wagon guards of each company repaired to the company 
wagons ; — some of each mess of every company were employ- 
ed in striking and rolling up the tents, while others were pack- 
ing the cooking utensils in the mess bags ; all then were car- 
ried and laid down by the wagon, and the guard loaded them 
in. Every man, then turned to his horse, saddled him, and 
buckling on his sword, and slinging his carbine on his shoul- 
der, mounted and fell in to the forming line of his company, 
which when full moved off and took its place in the battal- 
ion ; both battalions were in a few moments formed, and the 
wagons loaded. At the sound of the bugle again, the advance 
guard led out on the road, followed by the battalions, and 
those by the train, the rear guard bringing up the whole. 

This was the way every morning, from month to month, 
when on the march; every one learned, and every one knew 
it precisely, for there was no alteration save in the time of 
guard mounting. — Thisday the author was on the regimental 
guard, and on the division that fell into the rear. We did 
not leave the. encampment, until all were off the ground, and 
nothing was left there, save the smoking beds of coals, and 
the remnants of provision, left around, for which the wolves 
were waiting, and which would be seized by them, in less 
than fifteen minutes after we had left. 

The rear guard had been strengthened this day, by order 
of the colonel, to forty men. — We slowly proceeded after the 
^vagons. The day was pleasant, but the scenery was dull; 
the vast prairie had recently been run over by lire, and the 



SIGN OF INDIANS. 171 

young grass had not well sprung up. As there were thou- 
sands of deer about us, the hunters from the line, as usual, 
chased and killed many. In one instance, a couple of them 
bounded directl}" through the line. 

I rode in company with Carr to-day ; — he was mentioned 
before as an old Indian hunter. He seemed to be in his cl- 
ement in these wild, uninhabited scenes ; and, as I manifes- 
ted much curiosity with regard to the habits of observations 
of the Indians, enabling them to track persons or animals, 
he offered to show me something about tracking ; and ob- 
taining leave from the officer in command, to leave the line 
to hunt, we pursued our way together, striking off into a 
parallel course with the guard, about a mile distant, but on 
the level prairie in full view. 

Many deer were around us ; but we did not wish to kill 
any, being yet too far from camp ; — there were many signs 
of wild horses. After an hour, we came to a trail running 
to the south-east, across our route ; — stopping over it, we 
could see that many horses had traveled it that morning ; 
farther along, we came to another running the same course. 
I was passing over it ; but he, looking down, said " Indians! " 
and shewed me, as we dismounted, the faint outline of a 
foot, seen only, by the horses' tracks, on the hard earth, being 
a little dimmed, and still so little that it was some time be- 
fore I could perceive it. He traced it out with his knife ; 
but still, I was doubtful ; — he then rode along the trail, and 
called me again; but I could see nothing distinctly enough to 
judge from : — he rode along further, and there was a little 
pond hole of water ; and in the margin, in the mud, were 
the fresh tracks of moccasined feet, in abundance , — enough 
of them where they had dismounted ; and the water was still 
muddy where their horses had been in. — In the mud around 
this pond, too, he showed me the tracks of deer, of buffalo, 
of large rabbits, of wild horses, of wolves, and to -udnd up 
the whole, the round tracks of a panther. 

I had got off my horse to examine them, but he called my 
attention, saying that he did not much like the appearance 
of a large clump of musquit bushes fi-rther to our left, for 



172 SCATTERING COMANCHES. 

he would not be surprised if those d — d Indians were about 
there ; and, as the regiment were nearly out of sight in the 
distance, that we had better join them. I mounted, and we 
rode on towards it. We stopped, however, in a little dis- 
tance, to shoot the largest rattlesnake we had ever seen, and 
then pushed ahead. We crossed two more trails, parallel 
with each other, and but a short distance apart. These, 
Carr said, were of buffalo, which always made them in that 
way ; and that it was often difficult to distinguish them from 
those of Indians, when, from rain, or any other cause, the 
slight track could not be seen. 

We saw one of the men coming in pretty rapidly from the 
left, farther out than we had been ; — he was one of the hun- 
ters from the second battalion ; — he rode up to us, and said, 
that he believed there were Indians out there. — Carr laugh- 
ed, and asked him why he thought so. He said that he was 
riding out farther than the rest, and had got entirely out of 
view of the regiment, wanting to see some wild horses ; and 
over the prairie he saw two horsemen, far off, that he thought 
were some of our boys ; but they went very fast, and did 
not appear to be chasing deer or game, for they rode up to a 
bunch of musquit bushes, and came out again, and there 
were three of them then ; — and he saw another beyond them, 
and the idea struck him they were Indians, watching the 
movements of the regiment, and he put out at full speed, and 
seeing us as he came in, he rode up. They acted strange, he 
thought, if they were any of our boys ; but they were off so 
far he could not see plainly. Carr asked him if he was 
■ afraid of them. "No," he said, "but if they were Indians, 
there was no telling how many there were of them." We 
told him of the tracks we had seen, and he was confirmed 
in his opinion. 

Although there were plenty of tracks of wild horses, we 
saw none of these; they having probably taken the alarm 
at the sight of the body of the regiment, and put out. The 
rear guard was now in full view, and our companion left us 
to join his battalion. We continued along parallel with the 
guard, for some time, and shortly after joined it again. The- 



MEXICAN TRADERS. 173 

day was very hot, and the road was dusty ; — we felt the 
want of water. At noon, we came to a creek of clear wa- 
ter, and rode to it, to obtain some ; but we were disappointed, 
for it was salt ; so much so, that even our horses would not 
drink it. We rode on, some ten miles further, and we saw 
the regiment on a small hill before us, drawn up in columns. 
We found, that being about to encamp there, that word had 
been received from the advance, that they were in view of a 
Mexican encampment, whose number was unknown. — All 
were ordered to their saddles again, and the column in a trot 
moved ahead. We wished to go too, but could not, having to 
protect and bring up the rear of the train. — We proceeded on 
slowly, and about two more miles brought us in view of the 
regiment again, appearing very peaceable, and raising the 
lines of tents. We pushed ahead and entered the en- 
campment. 

On the right of this were a drove of sixty or eighty mules> 
and horses, all packed with hides, blankets, and other arti- 
cles ; these were guarded by about twenty-five armed Mexi- 
xjans. Every one of these had a frightened, anxious look. 
The captain of the band was before the field ofiicers, for ex- 
lamination. — One of our men, who could speak Spanish flu- 
ently, was the interpreter. — The Mexican stated, that his 
part}'^ was from the Rio Grande ; that he was going to 
Corpus Christi to trade ; that his men were armed to de- 
fend themselves and their goods from the Comanches, whose 
war parties he had learned were on the route. — That all this 
was true, was apparent from circumstances ; and he was im- 
mediately released, and left the ofiicers, touching his hat and 
saying, adios ! scnors, (farewell, gentlemen). He directed 
his men to go on to the next water, the last that we had 
passed, (where the regiment had been about to encamp). Our 
men, however, would not let them go so easily ; they wanted 
to trade, and the Mexicans were very willing. — One bought 
a horse, that had been caught from the prairie, a few days 
before; another purchased a Mexican blanket, with its vavie- 
gated colors ; others bought lariats; and others were much 
taken wjsth the enormous spurs used by the traders, the row- 



174 WILD HORSES. 

els being two inches or more in diameter, and they gave 
their own in place, which were freely taken. 

The regiment, in coming on, had obtained a much better 
encampment for grass and water, than the one at which they 
were about to stop. 

After the Mexicans had gone, the men of the advance 
were telling, round their suppers, of their day's march, and 
according to their account, they had a lively time all day. 
When they had marched out from camp this morning about 
five miles, being two miles ahead of the regiment, they 
came suddenly upon between two and three thousand wild 
horses ; (the number being said by all to be more than three 
times those in the regiment.) These upon their appearance, 
wheeled, and moved round in solid bodies, and finally, and 
with great celerity formed a line ; one flank of which was 
near the road in front, and the other was extended so far on 
the horizon to the right, that it could not be distinctly seen. 

They remained in this position for some moments, holding 
their heads high to examine the guard ; they then, by wheel- 
ing in large bodies, broke and left for the vast open range to the 
north-west, going ofi' with a cloud of dust in their rear, which 
hid them from the view. As they wheeled, the extreme right 
was brought near to the guard, who were unable to control 
themselves, but dashed out of the ranks, and charged upon 
them; broke the regular order of one of the bodies, confused, 
and scattered it. They shot two of them, and caught a 
third, as he endeavored to break through the line ; — they 
tried to lead him, but he was unmanageable, and they re- 
leased him. These horses were of all colors and sizes, from 
the patriarchal old steed, that led the van, down to the small- 
est colt. 

In an hour or two more, the guard came upon a pack of 
large wolves, and immediately gave chase to them ; these 
scattered; soon after, all the guard returned, save the chief 
bugler of the reg't; he was seen in the distance, rapidly in 
chase, until he disappeared from view. He returned in 
a couple of hours, having, in his excitement and eager- 
ness to catch the wolf he was after, lost his cloak- from the 



WOLVES. ITS' 

seat of his saddle, and his hat from his head ; and bareheaded 
in the hot sun, he came back at a more steady pace ; and when 
he again got up, he was venting many exclamations against 
all wolves in general, and the one he had chased in particu- 
lar. After this excitement of the chases had died away, the 
guard came in view of the Mexicans before mentioned, and 
not knowing their numbers, or intentions, were very cautious 
in approaching them. The Mexicans were disposed to be 
friendly, and struck their breasts, and said, Amigos ! Amigos a 
los Americanos ! (Friends! Friends to Americans.) The lieu- 
tenant sent back an express to the colonel, but then ventured 
nearer, and finding them friendly, all the guard sat down to 
eat with them ; — while the regiment behind, advancing rap- 
idly up, believing the guard about to be cut to pieces, — 
found them at their supper. 

— The Mexicans departed ; the guard was assembled at the 
guard tent, the first relief was posted, and the rest of us, as- 
well as the body of the regiment, lay down to sleep. — I wa* 
placed on the second relief, and stood from eleven o'clock till 
two. My station was along the edge of a high bluff" looking, 
down on the creek below ; on the next post to me was Carr^ 
and we violated the strict discipline, so far, as to get together 
at the junction of our stations, and have a long talk. He- 
told me the conclusion of the tale, he was relating with re- 
gard to himself; (which the reader will remember on page- 
65). — The Indian there mentioned, fired, but hit the tree ; sev- 
eral more came to his assistance, and Carr was taken pris- 
oner, and kept tied several weeks ; but after a while was al- 
lowed some liberty, when he made his escape from them, and 
traveled one hundred and ninety miles in six nights, conceal- 
ing himself in the day time, and got into the settlements on 
the Upper Mississippi ; — he never returned to his Indian 
friends, but set out for the Mexican war. 

After finishing our conversation, he walked his round, 
and I mine. The night was still and quiet; nothing could 
be heard, save the neighing of the wild horses out on the 
prairie, which seemed to have come up pretty near usj. and 
occasionally the concert of a pack of wolves. About one 



176 EXCURSIONS OF COMANCHES. 

o'clock, we heard a gun in the distance, from the Mexican 
traders' camp, then another, and shortly after, two more. — 
Probably they had seen the Comanches round them; they 
would not jSre without. It was a singular fact that here, in 
a space of a few miles, in a perfect wilderness, without a 
habitation to the north, nearer than seventy-five miles ; to 
the south, of over a hundred; to the east, towards the coast, 
none ; to the north-west, none for several hundred ; there 
should be three distinct bodies of men, of three different ra- 
ces, of three different languages, manners, and customs ; and 
each of the three, in a state of warfare with both of the 
others, — Americans, Mexicans, and Comanches. 

These bands, and in some instances, large forces of the 
warlike, savage tribe of Comanches, had infested and over- 
run this whole section, between the Nueces and the Rio 
Grande, for all the season ; had, while our troops were at 
Camargo, crossed the Rio Grande, between that and Mata- 
moras, in large numbers, and made extensive depredations 
in the vicinity of Mier ; in one case, appearing near the town 
directly after our troops had left it. They had not molested 
these, but in one instance ; when a skirmish took place be- 
tween two companies of Texas rangers, under captains Gil- 
laspie and McCullough, and a large party of the Indians, in 
which several of them were killed. 

A treaty had been made, in the month of June previous, by 
General Butler of South Carolina, and Colonel Lewis of Ten- 
nessee, commissioners for that purpose, with this tribe, and 
all the tribes on this frontier, in general council, assembled 
on the upper waters of the Colorado, in Texas. But this 
treaty the Comanches had not well kept. 

Three days after we had passed along here, a party of 
traders endeavored to go back to Corpus Christi, on our trail : 
they were attacked by this same body of them, then hanging 
round us, and only saved by a precipitous retreat, and the 
speed of their horses. 

Friday, October 20th. Wishing to be on the advance guard 
this day, the author in place of another, reported again, and 
succeeded. He had managed to keep a few oats until this 



CAPTURE OF A WILD HORSE. 17'7 

time, and they were of much benefit to his horse, for it was 
hard upon the horses now ; long marches from water to 
water ; — having been always accustomed to grain, they could 
not do without it, and keep up their strength and vigor ; 
besides the grass was much of it dead, and of but little help to 
them. There is a short, fine, silky grass, through this prairie 
wilderness in places, called musquit ; — this, even when 
dead, from the great amount of seed it bears, is fine for 
horses ; but there w"as none of this at some of the places of 
encampment, and many of the horses of the regiment were 
already showing the eflect of their want of proper food. 

The advance, this day, consisted of twenty-four men, a ser- 
geant, corporal and bugler, commanded by a lieutenant; and 
we were accompanied by Major Waterhouse. We were on 
the march at an early hour. — A fog rested over the surface 
of the prairie ; but it soon passed away, and the day's march 
was pleasant ; but fresh water was scarce, though salt was 
abundant. Thousands of deer, as before ; — many herds of 
wild spotted goats, that we had not seen previously, and many 
wild horses, that, drawing themselves up, surveyed us for a 
few moments, and then went away with the fleetness of the 
wind. — One, a gray, being visible in the distance. Christian, 
one of the men, obtained permission to give him a chase ; — 
this he did in good style : — he got round him unperceived, 
so that when the horse saw him. in running directly from him, 
he came towards us. Our boys seeing him a long ways off, 
coming, spurred their horses out, and forming a wide semi- 
circle, surrounded, confused and turned him about, and 
crowded upon him. — He fought well, biting with teeth, and 
giving kicks with his hind, and blows with his fore feet; 
— he could do but little, though, against such a set of dare 
devils ; who, after a desperate struggle on his part, in spite 
of his snorts and blows, his rapid kicking and biting, jump- 
ed at him like so many blood-hounds, and soon got a slip- 
noose over his neck, and a turn around his head ; — and then> 
tying him to two strong horses, they whipped him and forced 
him into line. — He never, for a moment, discontinued hia 
efforts to regain his liberty. — He was a very good looking, 
12 



178 HUMAN SKELETONS. 

middle sized stud, but had one of his eyes injured, probably 
by fighting. 

While engaged in the frolic with him, the boys saw sev- 
eral human skeletons lying on the green sward around ; — • 
fragments of clothing were near. One of the men dis- 
mounted, picked up a skull, with a joke, tossed it up to an- 
other, and picked up a second ; and, each with one, came 
on the lines of the guard again. One of the skulls had 
been cut through above the left ear, with a narrow and thick 
tomahawk, that had raised the bone, making the incision 
broad ; — the other was shot directly through the head. Who 
these were, and when they were killed, aflbrded much con- 
versation to some of the men, who reasoned and argued 
upon their different views of the matter, with as much so- 
briety and earnestness as though they had data from which to 
form an opinion. These finally concluded that the larger 
one was the head of Morgan, the anti-mason. — The horse 
was forced along several miles, and then turned loose, and 
he bounded away to enjoy his freedom again. 

We passed, occasionally, pretty, clear lakes, but at each 
one failed in getting drinking water ; — all were salt. — After 
marching about twenty-five miles, the advance halted, upon 
a narrow ridge of higher land, lying between two extensive 
lakes, also salt ; — but on the ridge was a pond hole, over- 
grown with rushes and moss. In this was fresh water; 
which, on being strained, was drinkable, but unpleasant to 
the taste. — We were rejoiced, however, to find it. 

The regiment shortly came up ; the train and rear guard 
followed ; the camp was laid off, and soon horses unsaddled 
and " lariatted " out to grass, tents up, fires burning, &c. 

At sunset, we saw several horsemen coming in, far over the 
prairie, on our trail ; — we examined them closely, but were 
agreeably surprised, on their nearer approach, to find them 
a number of our men, who had been left behind from place 
to place, sick ; — some as far back as Little Rock, on the Ar- 
kansas. Accompanying them, was the assistant surgeon, 
Dr. Stout, who had attended to them all along, having had 
a laborious time. We were rejoiced to meet the doctor and 



LOST HUNTERS. 179 

Lis patients recovered. — (There were now but one or two 
yet behind, and these afterwards joined us at different 
places.) 

One man of our company, McPherson, and one of Cap- 
tain Gillaspie's, had been missing for two days, since they 
had left the lines to hunt on the prairie. Much concern was 
felt about them ; which, this evening, was relieved by their 
coming up together. — McPherson gave a singular account of 
his being lost. He had chased off a herd of wild goats, en- 
deavoring to kill one, when he suddenly came upon a herd 
of wild horses grazing. — These galloped around, formed their 
line in a moment, and, as usual, held up their heads to ex- 
amine him. He, wishing to get nearer, spurred his horse di- 
rectly for the centre of the line ; — when near the horses 
there, they turned and ran, the two flanks following ; but as 
the centre ran ahead, in the cloud of dust, the flanks closed 
in behind and around him ; and he being ' forced to keep up, 
was not able to get out for some time ; — and when he did 
succeed in clearing himself from them, his horse was reeking 
with sweat and covered with dust, and he himself was en- 
tirely ignorant of the course he had come ; for the sun was 
not out, the sky being cloudy ; the prairie appearing in all 
directions the same vast level scene, save the dust from 
the herd of horses in the distance. — He went back on the 
trail, got confused, and wandered around. Shortly after, see- 
ing a distant horseman, he rode towards him, and found him 
to be one of Gillaspie's men ; who, hunting, was also lost. 
These two slept during the night in the grass, without fire ; 
for, having seen numerous tracks of Indians, they were fear- 
ful of building one, which, in these prairies, would show for 
many miles around. They wandered all the next day, pay- 
ing no attention to the horses, deer, &c., surrounding them, 
only anxious to find the road. They slept, that night, 
as before ; and in the morning about ten o'clock, to their 
great joy, struck the road about twenty-five miles back, or a 
little beyond our last night's encampment; — they then rode 
on and came up, — hungry and exhausted. 

One man by the name of Smith died this day, while on the- 



180 SALT MARSHES. 

march, in the hospital wagon. He had been sick for several 
days. During the night another one died, Rogers, of Captain 
Haynes' company. — They were both buried this morning; — 
(No material could be procured for coffins ; so their graves 
were dug deep, and they were laid out in them, wrapped in 
their blankets, and barrel staves were placed closely above 
them.) 

Saturday, October Slst. This day's march of about twenty- 
eight miles, was through a continued succession of salt lakes 
and marshes of immense extent, with here and there a rise 
of land between. These marshes, we observed, on the east, 
at a distance of ten or twelve miles, were bounded, in one 
part, by a range of lofty hills ; these, however, did not con- 
tinue far ; they appeared to rise out of the marsh itself. — On 
the lakes, and overflowed extent of marsh, were innumera- 
ble flocks of pelicans, swans, geese, cranes and ducks ; — on 
the ranges of higher land, were many herds of wild horses, 
deer and goats. The gi-ass on these ridges was taller than 
we had ever seen, rising — in many places thick — higher than 
we could reach, while on our horses. 

These marshes were difficult for us to cross ; — still more 
difficult for the wagon train. We were obliged to make long 
circuits to find crossing places over them, and yet longer 
ones to get round the lakes. The water on the marshes 
was from one to two feet deep for miles in succession, cov- 
ered with long rushes ; in the centre a deeper lagoon wound 
its way. In some of these lagoons was a considerable cur- 
rent running to the east; — water extremely salt, and, in most 
places, from four to five feet deep. Through these marshes 
we wound our way. It was splash — splash — splash — splash, 
before and in the rear. We, as well as our horses, suffered 
much inconvenience from the want of fresh.'water. — That, 
last night, was so unpleasant, that neither men nor horses 
drank much. — This day not a drop could be found until late, 
when we halted on a little hill, in a hollow of which, eleva- 
ted above the level of the marshes, was found a pond hole 
of brackish water, small, and overgrown with rushes and 
grass. This was enough to give us and our horses a drink, 



WANT OF FRESH WATER. 181 

but not sufficient for the night. — Scouts were sent out, in all 
directions, to find more ; and, after two hours' delay, they 
reported there was wood and good grass at a point of timber 
about six miles off, just discernible on the horizon, and a 
pond hole of " salty " water about two miles from it, and 
that this was the best chance for us to encamp for the 
night. 

We immediately commenced the march for the timber, 
where we arrived about an hour by sun, and encamped. 
The grass was tall, though of an inferior quality ; — plenty 
of oak wood, (the last we saw). — The water brought from 
the hole, two miles off, was unfit for use ; it made us more 
thirsty, to drink it. Many of the men dug holes in the lower 
parts of the prairie around the camp, but the water that 
rose in them was worse than that of the pond — more salt. 
— The general conversation that evening was about water : 
one was relating the account of a spring of cool clear water 
in his father's yard ; another was speaking of an old well at 
his home, that never gave out ; while another had much to 
say about a spring branch that run through his yard in Ten- 
nessee; while others spoke of the " Big Spring" at Memphis, 
&c., &c. Some of the men made coffee of the salt water, 
but that was worse ; — they could not sM^allow a drop of it. 
— In the wagon train, it was now found, there were two bar- 
rels of liquor. — Nobody knew who the owner was ; but it 
was for sale, and many bought, and mixed it in the water. 
This made it more palatable ; in fact, so much more, that 
many of the men drank so freely of it, that they were much 
elevated under its influence. 

Sunday, November \st. The horses all looked badly this 
morning. For the want of forage they were getting weak, 
and moved in a dull, sleepy way. Some gave out yesterday 
on the march, and died ; three or four died last night ; and 
this morning, immediately after roll call, one came stagger- 
ing through the tents of our company, and fell over on one 
of them, kicked and died. A man was sleeping in the tent, 
having laid down after the roll call ; and the dying horse, in 
his fall, knocked it down and rolled over on it ; and how it 



182 BRINY LAKE. 

happened that he did not fall on the sleeping man, we could 
not see. — As the dying animal came over on the tent, the 
man got from under the canvass on the other side, with 
remarkable quickness, and with a look of perfect wildness, 
at being so aroused; which was not diminished as he saw 
the horse that had occasioned it. 

We were on the march this morning very early. The route 
of the day was like that of the day before, though we passed 
through not so much marsh, but went by more lakes. One 
of these was very large and clear, and we hoped to find it 
of fresh water; — for the thirst of ourselves, as well as of 
our horses, now was getting great. We rode to it ; — the 
shore was of sand, but the water, evaporating, had left a 
<;rust of dirty salt, from two to three inches in thickness, all 
around. This was also the case in the water: every step 
the horses took, broke up the incrusted salt on the bottom. 
The water itself was a solution of it ; — ^held as much as it was 
possible that it could do ; — consequently was, literally, " as salt 
as brine." (This article, salt, we had often needed before this, 
and did often need it afterwards ; but, in this section of coun- 
try, there was " too much of a good thing.") We soon turn- 
ed away from this lake ; which, though large and clear, was 
not visited by any water fowl, being entirely too salt for their 
taste. Neither is it probable that there was a fish, muscle, 
crab, or any living thing in it ; — we saw no trace of such. 

We went on six miles farther, and came to two lakes, that 
had many flocks of ducks and geese upon their surface, which 
gave us reason to hope that they were fresh. We tried the 
first, — salt ; too much so swallow well ; — rode to the other, 
about a mile : this could be drank by those as thirsty as 
ourselves. Our horses drank it freely. — The encampment 
was immediately pitched near the first one, where plenty of 
dry musquit wood was on a little rise, and pretty good 
grass ; and the way our tired and hungry horses ate this 
" was a sin." 

— The prairie now became more rolling, but, as yet, little 
timber ; oak timber having become smaller and more scrub- 



FRESH WATER. 183 

by for a long way back, had now entirely disappeared, and 
musquit taken its place. 

Monday^ November 2d. We commenced the march of the 
day early. The officers calculated that the river called the 
Sal Colorado [pron. Sal Colorou) was about four or five miles 
ahead, when we started ; but we marched some twenty-six 
or twenty-eight miles, and saw nothing of it. After travel- 
ing some four or five miles, we came to a lake of good wa- 
ter ; — this was truly refreshing. The succeeding lakes were 
alternately salt and fresh, yet all looking alike, and in the 
same kind of soil : — there were many of them. About noon 
we struck the chapparal, and after that saw no more of the 
extensive views of prairie and marsh. — This chapparal was 
close and thick of musquit; but under it was a closer growth 
of prickly pear, growing up some eight and ten feet high, 
{see prickly pear, plate, page 356;) every separate plant twelve 
or fourteen feet across ; — each large leaf covered with thou- 
sands of needles, that penetrated us and our horses, and re- 
maining always in the wound, being by no means easy to 
draw out. — A new kind of grass began to be plenty. This 
bore burs, each one with five points, strong and sharp. 

The regiment was halted at two P. M., w-hile scouts were 
sent out to examine the country. We remained about two 
hours, in the intervals between the large tracts of this im- 
penetrable chapparal. — The appearance of the country had 
changed entirely. — For many weeks, and even upon this 
morning, had we been in wide, open grounds ; and although 
for several days in the salt marshes, yet these were open, 
and we had plenty of room ; but this afternoon we were 
crowded up in narrow intervals, with thorns on every side ; 
the close musquit being loaded with them, and the vast 
quantity of prickly pear covered with the same ; — if we found 
a place of grass large enough to lay down, we bounced up 
again quicker than we threw ourselves down : for the grass 
was full of these burs, that were keener than needles. — 
One good thing, though, we found : fresh water in abun- 
dance, in the lakes spoken of. 

After being ordered to resume our march, we passed on 



184 CHARGE ON WHISKY BARRELS. 

about six miles, and came out of the " d-v-l-sh chapparal,'* 
as the men ah-eady called it, into a pretty prairie of a thou- 
sand or two acres, covered with a close growth of the short, 
fine, silky musquit grass, mentioned before, not more than 
four inches long, and dead at that, — completely brown. One 
who had never seen this sort of grass, would have thought 
this place a poor chance for horses ; but it was, even dead, 
much better than the long, green, coarse grass mentioned : 
for this dead musquit was heavy with seed. If we could have 
got plenty of this, our horses would have done pretty well, 
but it was only occasionally that we got it. — Several more 
horses died to-day from weakness. 

We had seen but very little game all day, — not a single 
wild horse, and very few deer; but to-night, to our great 
gratification, we saw several cattle, wild to be sure, but we 
knew that these were herded. We put out after them, and 
killed four or five ; for our stock of provisions was running 
out, and for four days back had we been on half rations. 
The minor articles, such as coffee, sugar, rice, candles, &c., 
had given out entirely. There were, this night, two days' 
rations of meat and bread in the train. 

In the evening quite a row took place. Many of the regi- 
ment had been talking over the legality and expediency 
of hauling in the train two barrels of whisky, to the exclu- 
sion of two barrels of pork. This had been, however, silently 
spoken of; but this evening, after dark, a large crowd took 
their canteens and proceeded to the wagon, and took posses- 
sion of the barrels ; — knocked in the heads, and supplied 
every one that wanted with whisky, until it w^as all gone. 

Tuesday, November Sd. The regiment was on the march 
at an early hour. The face of country, this day, w^as alter- 
nately of prairie and chapparal, — prairie mostly, until near 
the Sal Colorado, which we struck at one, P. M. (This was 
the stream where General Taylor was met by the Mexican 
adjutant general, w^ho forbade his progress. — This stream 
was seventy yards wide, and of salt water. We commenced 
the crossing immediately ; — rafts were constructed by each 
company, and towed over by swimmers, for the river was 



SAL COLORADO. 185- 

too high to allow of fording, as had been done by the army 
of General Taylor. — On these rafts were placed the baggage 
and arms ; — the horses were swum across ; the wagons were 
pulled over from the other bank by a long rope, kept on pur- 
pose for such occasions ; — the water being about eight feet 
deep, took them about half way up the cover bows, and 
everything in them, or nearly so, was wet, save the ammuni- 
tion, which was kept dry. — This crossing was a busy scene, 
and not ended until midnight. 

Wednesday, November 4th. All the train being across the 
Sal Colorado, we left at an early hour. The march, this 
day, was by an old trail or path, wide enough for our 
wagons, through the dense chapparal, now more thick than 
before. Our course was slow, for our horses were quite 
weak; — many gave out this day, and were left by the 
roadside to die ; a dozen from the train alone were left yes- 
terday and to-day. Occasionally, through the day, we passed 
over small prairies ; — in these were growing great quantities 
of wild red pepper, which was very strong. — We observed 
the retreats of an animal new.to us : — a rat, in everything but 
ears, which resembled those of a rabbit ; — like the squirrel, 
in its habits of climbing, &c. Their large retreats were 
built in great numbers under the bunches of prickly pear. — 
We also saw, rearing its head in the dense thicket, many 
trunks of the sword palmetto, or Spanish bayonet, from fif- 
teen to twenty-five feet high ; {see sword palmetto, page 356) ; — 
this, like the prickly pear and the musquit tree, was to be in 
our constant view for many months hereafter. 

We encamped near a lake of good water, at three, P. M. 
— The grass was poor, but our half famished horses ate it 
greedily. — This night, the remainder of the provisions were 
issued, and the wagons, save those for ammunition, were 
empty ; — but we hoped to be able to get within reach of the 
Rio Grande on the next day. — We had left the range of all 
the wild animals, having seen none during this day, and our 
accustomed venison at night was failing. — Several horses died 
during the night, unable to endure the fatigue and want of 
forage. 



186 ARRIVAL AT RIO GRANDE. 

TJiursday, Novcmbc?^ 5th. We were on the march at an 
early hour. After going about ten miles we came to a beat- 
en road, the only one we had seen for many days. — Our 
horses seemed to travel better at once. — We took this road, 
leading down towards the coast, and nine miles farther 
brought us to the water ponds near the battle field of " Palo 
Alto." — Here all were rejoiced to see many wagons, that 
had been sent out from Matamoras to meet us ; notice of our 
coming having been sent by the colonel, from the Sal Color- 
ado. Most welcome supplies of corn, oats, meat, bread, 
flour, sugar, coffee, rice, beans, pickles, candles, soap, &c. 
The tents were pitched, and immediately all these were 
served out. — (But the author was not in this feast of good 
things ; for he, with part of the wagon train, pretty well in 
the rear, instead of going to the left to Palo Alto, took, by 
mistake, a right hand path, and was led by it into the main 
road at the ravine of Resaca de la Palma, the second battle 
ground. — Passing over this, a distance of four miles, brought 
them suddenly in view of the Rio Grande, the city of Mata- 
moras, and the long lines of tents of the troops there; — also 
of Fort Brown, and the American flag flying high above it. 
The transition was most sudden from the thick chapparal 
to the view of the city. Those that had come in by them- 
selves crossed the river, leaving their horses with the wag- 
ons, amply furnished with forage ; — went up to the busy city, 
and, amid the crowded streets, soon found many of the men 
who had came round sick ; — most were now well ; Captain 
Porter, of company G, however, being worse.) 

Saturday, November Hth. On Friday the 6th, the regiment 
remained at Palo Alto to rest the horses, having plenty of 
supplies ; and this morning they marched in, arriving on the 
bank of the Rio Grande at two o'clock in the afternoon. They 
passed down by Fort Brown, and encamped, in regular order, 
in the bend of the river below that fortification. 

Thus ended the long march of near fourteen hundred miles, 
by the route we had come ; — commencing on the 27th of July, 
and ending on this date. 

The Kentucky cavalry had arrived at Camargo two or three 



ENCAMPMENT. 187 

days previous to this time. They had also suffered severely, 
from the want of water and forage, in crossing the desert 
prairie. 

Our hardships now were over, for a few weeks at least ; 
and there being any quantity of forage here, we hoped to 
have our horses soon in good order again. 

On the 9th we crossed the river to the city, and marched 
through, and encamped on the San Fernando road ; but the 
water not being good, we shifted our camp, the following 
day, to a position on a lake called " Agua dulce,''^ (pron. ar- 
■wah doolsy,) or sweet water, — a pretty crescent-shaped lake, 
four miles north-west from the city {see map of Malamo- 
ras) ; — this encampment was called " Camp Ringgold." — 
Here we remained until December 21st, when again we 
were on the move. 



CHAPTER V. 

Sunday, November 29lh. We had now been at Matamoras 
between three and four weeks, and had taken every oppor- 
tunity for acquiring information respecting the city and its 
inhabitants. Our curiosity in this respect was quite active; 
for, after a long march across the desert wilderness, we had 
suddenly, as it were, come into the midst of a busy popula- 
tion, in a city crowded with its inhabitants and our soldiers ; 
a city where those stirring events had happened, the result 
of which had been to draw us from our peaceful occupations 
at home, and to place us in the position of soldiers ; — and, 
upon our arrival, the inhabitants of which we found so very 
different in appearance, dress, manners and customs of liv- 
ing, language, religion, and almost every other particular, from 
those of our own country, or any that the most of us had 
ever seen before ; therefore, the time that had elapsed since 
our arrival, had been, as much as possible, devoted to obtain- 
ing information with regard to them, their city, and their 
country. 

Matamoras contains between nine and ten thousand in- 
habitants ; is situated on the southern bank of the Rio Grande 
or Rio Del Norte, on a rise of land partly surrounded by 
three lakes, {see plan). It is twenty-five miles from the 
mouth of the river by land, but about seventy-five by 
the course of the river. The city is laid out on a regular 
plan ; the streets crossing each other at right angles. There 
are four public squares ; (though, on the plan, but two of them 
are laid down ; the other two being of inconsiderable impor- 
tance). The buildings, around the principal square or Plaza, 

(188) 



BUILDINGS OF MATAMORAS. 189 

are of two stories ; of brick, well and handsomely built, with 
a fair proportion of windows to each ; with long balconies 
above the lower story. — Occupying the larger part of the 
eastern side of this Plaza, is the large unfinished cathedral — 
the walls of which are erected, as well as the towers ; but 
the roof never has been placed over them — probably on ac- 
count of want of means. Part of the enclosed space has 
been so fitted, however, as to answer temporarily for 
public worship ; and the adjoining residences of the priests 
are finished. — The capilla, on the western square, an- 
swered, for the present, the purpose of saying mass. 

On the western side of the Plaza are the public buildings, 
now occupied by Colonel Curtis, the governor of the place; — ■ 
some for storehouses for the supplies of the quartermaster's, 
and other departments; — one house being used as the guard- 
room for the stationed guard of the city, and another as the 
common prison. — The other two sides are occupied as stores 
below, and dwellings above. 

Each side of the Plaza is a solid block of buildings. On 
the streets leading in each direction from this, for some dis- 
tance throughout the heart of the city, the buildings continue 
mostly of two stories, of brick ; the sidewalks of the same. 
This part includes all the public buildings of the city, and 
the principal houses of business, market-house, &c. This 
last, though some distance north-west of the main Plaza, is 
surrounded by business houses as extensive, or more so, than 
those around that; — on coming nearer to the exterior, the 
buildings are of one story, still brick, but no longer flat roofs 
of that material, but thatched with straw ; there being no 
timber here of which shingles can be made. When nearer 
still to the outskirts of the town, the brick buildings give way 
to cottages; — or, rather, huts; — made of cane, lashed, by strips 
of raw hide, to musquit poles ; with roof of straw, support- 
ed by the same : not a nail about them ; — strips of hide for 
all, even to support the braces and crooked poles upon which 
rests the roof. Here, too, the sidewalks all disappear. — These 
cane huts occupy the larger portion of the area of the city. 

—There are many fine gardens, surrounded by brick walla, 



190 GARDENS. 

in the heart of the city ; — these are cultivated with taste and 
care, — have many flowers and shrubs, that grow not in the 
colder climate of our own country ; — have many trees of 
orange, lemon, and lime, though china trees seem to be a fa- 
vorite shade here. — (These gardens, however, did not com- 
pare in beauty with those afterward seen in the more south- 
ern cities of Mexico.) — But on the suburbs, the gardens are 
like the houses, rough ; and enclosed by fences of the same 
light cane, fastened in the same way. None of the streets 
of Matamoras are paved, there being no rock in the vicinity. 
A rampart and ditch runs three-fourths of the distance 
around the place {see plan), commencing at fort Paredes, 
on the bank of the river, and continuing along the western 
side, to the edge of the Laguna, running round a part of this 
and the southern side of the town, comes up on the eastern 
to the lake ; — the remainder of the circuit is protected by that 
lake and another, together with the Rio Grande. A small 
part of the city lies on the eastern side of these lakes ; but it 
is mostly of cane huts. 

(This city, as we afterwards learned, is not a fair sample 
of the Mexican style of building, being so far from the older 
part of Mexico, and in itself a new town; scarcely having an 
existence previous to the year 1820.) — There were no old 
buildings here ; nothing reminded one of former years ; like 
many of the towns of the western parts of the United States, 
every thing looked unfinished. — We noticed some few houses 
built in the American style. — The author was informed by 
an American who came to the place in 1823, and M^ho since 
has resided here, that the town owed its prosperity to the 
contraband trade that had been here carried on.* Under 
the old Spanish government, Tampico, three hundred miles 

• This gentleman was a person of education and intelligence, a native of New 
London, in Connecticut ; — had made in this place a handsome fortune, and settled 
himself here. He was one of those who, with Mr. Schaltzell, the United States' con- 
sul here, previous to the commencement of hostilities, were, on the 12th of April, by 
General Arista, ordered to leave the city and go to Tampico; which they did, leav- 
ing their families behind them. On their arrival at Tampico, on the 23d of May,, 
they heard of the capture of the city by General Taylor, and immediately took pas- 
sage on a vessel and returned. 



SETTLEMENT OF MATAMORAS. 191 

to the south, was the most northern port of entry. The 
people of the northern provinces, of Nueva Leon, Tamauli- 
pas, [pron. Tau-jnau-lee-pas), and Cohahuila, {pron. Ko-ak 
wee-laJi), had money enough ; but, on account of the distance, 
it was with great difficulty that articles of convenience or 
luxury could be procured by them, and even then at great 
prices, on account of the high duties imposed. 

Seeing this, many Americans became engaged in bringing 
goods to this river, and selling to the people of the country ; 
— this trade was for a long time very profitable. They estab- 
lished depots at this place, and were afterward joined by 
many French, Italians, and a few Englishmen ; — the con- 
traband trade so commenced was carried on with impunity, 
on account of the many facilities offered. 

The town of Matamoras soon sprung up, and traffic was 
opened with all the northern provinces ; and for many years it 
has been the principal point of export and import for these. 
After it had risen to such a degree of importance as to at- 
tract the attention of the general government, it was made 
a port of entry, and a custom house established, to prevent 
the illicit introduction of foreign goods ; — but the custom 
house officers receiving, from the merchants engaged in this, 
more profit than they could otherwise realize, winked at the 
smuggling carried on before their eyes ; and the interior was 
still furnished with goods at a cheaper rate than they could 
be purchased for in Tampico. — Where the trade was, there 
of course collected the population. At the commencement of 
this war, Matamoras rivaled, in trade and population, many 
cities of Mexico which had been founded for hundreds of years. 

It will be seen, by reference to the map of Matamoras, that 
the Rio Grande is remarkably crooked near the city ; — it is 
much more so below, between the city and coast. The land 
around the city being level, the tall chimneys of an approach- 
ing steamboat may be seen for two or three hours before she 
arrives ; and as she follows the winding course of the river, 
the chimney tops seem going far to the south and then re- 
turning to the north, only, apparently, to take another course 
to the south ; and thus she appears to go for a long time. 



192 MIXED POPULATION. 

back and forth upon the same line, until she turns the last 
bend, and comes to view at the lower ferry. — One short and 
one longer bend brings her to the landing on the north of 
the city, near fort Paredes. 

This river, although so crooked, runs with a current of 
four miles an hour; — it waters are turbid and thick with 
mud, and resemble, in color, those of the Mississippi. The 
river has the same appearance, of under current rising from 
the bottom and boiling up, as it were, and spreading out on 
the surface. The water is good, and, when settled, equal in 
clearness and purity to that of any stream ; — although, in this 
section, it runs through a country impregnated with salt, 
yet it possesses none of that quality; being used by the in- 
habitants of the city for all washing and cooking purposes ; — 
the wells here furnish but brackish water. The river banks 
are of clay, bluff, and apt to wash away and fall in. — The 
lakes marked on the plate, in very high water, communi- 
cate with the river. La Laguna is several miles in circum- 
ference, and has an outlet to the river twelve miles above 
the city. 

The land around Matamoras, on both sides of the river, is 
perfectly level, covered in many places by large tracts of 
impenetrable chapparal ; the soil, wherever cultivated, is fer- 
tile, — though of that shortly. — The inhabitants of this city 
are all of dark complexion, that is, the Mexican portion ; 
but, as said before, they are mixed up with French, Italians, 
some English and old settled Americans, and some Dutch. 

Of the Mexican population, this American gentleman spo- 
ken of, said, that there was but one family resident in 
the city, of the Spanish or Castilian race ; that all the rest 
were of the mingled breeds between that race and the Indi- 
ans ; — this class are the most numerous throughout the whole 
of Mexico, but here the population is altogether of it. They 
are of various shades, but all dark. — He stated that the 
nearest families of pure blood were at San Fernando, a 
town of about three thousand inhabitants, ninety miles in 
the interior ; but in proceeding to the southward, in that di- 
rection, into the more thickly and older settled parts of Mex- 




PLAN OF MATAMORAS, AND VICINITY, FROM SURVEY BY 

CAPTAIN M. A. HAYNES, OF THE TENNESSEE REGIMENT 

OF CAVALRY, NOVEMBER 30, 184 7. 



13 



DRESS OF MEXICANS. 195 

ico, they became more numerous ; (which we found to be the 
fact, in our subsequent marches). 

The dress of the men in this city varied much. Some of 
the more influential and wealthy, with such an example as 
now they had before them, of well dressed officers and Amer- 
ican citizens, copied it as set ; and dressed in neatly made 
and fitting coats, pantaloons and vests, cravats, shoes and 
boots, with American hats, &c. But those dressed "^ la 
Mexicana,^'' wore short waisted pantaloons, (called cahones,) 
without suspenders ; open on the outside seam of each leg 
nearly to the waistband, with a row of large gilt or silvered 
bell buttons down this outside seam, to close it as far as the 
taste of the wearer required. — These pantaloons were of 
cotton, or more generally of dressed buck-skin, with a pro- 
fusion of ornamental needle work in bows, flowers, &c., &c., 
conspicuous on the sides and front ; beneath this pair, an- 
other of white or blue was worn, showing all along on 
the outside of the leg, where the outer ones were open ; — 
this inner pair were called calzoTwillas . A cotton or linen 
shirt, always clean and nice, with a wide brimmed sugar 
loafed hat of palm, (called a sombrero), with a cord-like or- 
namental band around it, (called toquilla), with two silver 
screws with large flat heads to them, showing on the out- 
sides, passing through the body of the hat ; — these are used 
to fasten, by each end, a strong ribbon, which passes under 
the chin, to keep the hat on when riding in the wind ; — slip- 
pers made of thin, half tanned leather, of goatskin, useless 
when wet, or sometimes sandals, — no socks, gloves, or cra- 
vat ; — in shirt, hat, pantaloons, and slippers, they considered 
themselves dressed. {See plate, page 378.) 

— If more was necessary, on account of cold, an horongo, 
or ornamental blanket, worked in figures, diamonds, circles, 
squares, &c., in red, white, blue, and green colors, was added. 
— This had a slit in the centre, through which the Mex- 
ican put his head when on horseback, and the whole blan- 
ket hung around him in its gaudy colors. At other times, 
laying it on his neck, he threw the right hand side across his 
breast and over his left shoulder. — In this array, imagine the 



196 WOMEN OF MATAMORAS. 

Mexican on foot before you, — with sombrero, blanket, double 
pantaloons, and slippers, and commonly an enormous pair 
of spurs on his heels, and a little paper cigar in his mouth. 
— Instead of the horongo, however, the better class wore a 
finer article of the blanket kind, called a " serapc.^^ 

The women wore white chemises, with only shoulder 
straps ; the bosom and back were cut much lower than in our 
country would be thought correct; bare arms, a short petti- 
coat, and slippers without stockings ; almost every one wore 
a pair of gold ear-rings, and their hair was neatly braided, — 
To this dress, they added a " rebosoj'^ or shawl, often orna- 
mented, which came down upon the person, leaving the face 
exposed. The part that hung on the right side was thrown 
over the left shoulder : and with such tact did they wear 
itj that that corner never slipped off. — Their dress was not 
only neat, but pretty. 

As an ornament, or for religious devotion, almost every 
woman wore a little gold crucifix, with a string of beads 
or plain cord. Most of them had the little cigar between 
their lips ; and, when in the streets, had an " open and shut ** 
fan. These women of Matamoras cannot be said to be pretty. 
They are all dark in complexion ; but they have fine forms, 
black, glossy hair, large black eyes, and beautiful teeth ; and, 
(however, many exceptions) are neat and trim. 

This is the appearance of the Mexican male and female 
on foot ; but nearly all the men were continually on horse- 
back, and presented quite a different appearance to the 
eye, than horsemen of our country. — A Mexican is not 
" at home " until he is on horseback. The horses are 
smaller than those of our country, but active and hardy. 
— The bridle is commonly covered, on the sides and front 
band, with small diamond pieces of silver ; the bit is pow- 
erful, — for a curb is an iron ring going round the horse's 
lower jaw ; the lower part of the bit projects below the 
horse's lip — has a cross-bar here, covered with small jingling 
pieces of steel. — There are no martingales. The saddle has 
a smaller seat than those we use ; instead of skirts, it has 
to the stirrup leathers a wide piece going back to protect the 



HORSEMEN. 197 

leg from the sweat of the horse ; has wooden stirrups, with 
a large piece of leather covering them, and coming down in 
two long points a foot below. The housing of the saddle is 
made of horse hair, manufactured after the fashion of a wig ; 
— the girth is of a dozen cords of horse hair, made fast at 
each end to a large iron ring with a long tongue, by strap- 
ping up which the saddle is fastened. A long lasso, of raw 
hide, or hair rope, with a running noose on the end, hangs 
on the horn of the saddle, to which the other end is fastened ; 
— to this horn also hangs a water gourd, ca.\\edguah-he,{which. 
has been described on page 127). The saddle is ornamented 
with many pieces of silver ; and in some instances bits of 
looking-glass are set in, &c., &c. Now, reader, imagine one 
of these inhabitants, dressed as described, with his sombrero, 
gaudy blanket, and open outside pantaloons, with spurs, 
the rowels two inches in diameter, with jingling tags to them, 
mounted in this style, and you have the Mexican on horse- 
back; — the Mexican in Matamoras, and the Mexican in all 
other parts ; for in this respect there was no difference in 
them, save when mounted as lancers : then they wore green 
uniforms, faced with red and trimmed with yeliow. They 
do not ride like us : the stirrups being more back, throw their 
bodies more forward, and their knees are not bent ; in fact, 
they stand in their stirrups. {See plate, page 368.) 

This population of men, mounted and on foot, women, 
boys and girls, dressed after the same fashion, filled the 
streets of Matamoras, together with laborers. United States' 
soldiers and officers, both regulars and volunteers ; many of 
the wagons of the army were employed in transporting 
stores, &c., and so much work was required for the army, 
that everything was busy, and the city, with its mixed pop- 
ulation, presented an active scene. 

In walking through the crowded streets of the city at this 
time, the stranger was surprised at the number of Ameri- 
cans ; who, following the course of the army, settled down, 
keeping shops and stores of various sorts, eating houses, and 
taverns ; and not a few kept gambhng rooms, where rolette 



198 POLICE— FORT BROWN. 

tables, chuck-a-luck, faro and ^'■monte'''' banks, (this last a 
Mexican game), were constantly going. 

The city, in its internal police, was under the government 
of its four alcaldes, or magistrates, and its Ayuntimenio, or 
common council. — These alcaldes have their courts open 
every day for the punishment of criminals ; all of whom, af- 
ter conviction, were passed over to the city jail, on the Plaza, 
"which was continually guarded by Mexican soldiers ; — though 
the whole was, in fact, under the control of Colonel Curtis, 
of the third Ohio regiment, the military commander of the 
city. 

(The garrison, at this time, consisted of that regiment, en- 
camped on the north of the city, and the third Indiana regi- 
ment, Colonel Lane, on the east {see plate). Fort Paredes, 
on the bank of the river, at the north-west corner of the city, 
was occupied by part of the Ohio regiment, while part of 
the Indiana, in conjunction with a force of regulars, occu- 
pied Fort Brown.) 

Guards Avere stationed here and there, at the corners and 
public places, throughout the city, and the first object that 
struck the eye, on entering the Plaza, were two cannon in 
front of the guard house, and a line of soldiers on duty ; all 
under the shade of the china trees. 

On the top of the flag staff, over these soldiers, floated in 
the strong breeze, the flag of the United States, always 
glanced up to by the Americans with feelings of pride and 
satisfaction, and frowned upon and scowled at by the Mexi- 
cans ; — answering to this flag, above the captured city, is the 
one on the flag staff of Fort Brown, on the opposite side of 
the river. 

This fort, strong in the days of its bombardment, last May, 
is more so now. — Its defences are finished, and more cannon 
mounted ; — supplies of every kind were abundant in it. — The 
city of Matamoras could not be held by a hostile force, while 
this fort is garrisoned ; (for position of Fort Brown, see 
plate, showing, also, the batteries that were erected against 
it by the Mexicans). — In this fort, in addition to its own 
heavy armament, are several of the lighter cannon taken 



COPPER BALLS. 199 

from the Mexicans at the battle of Resaca de la Palma. — 
these pieces are of brass, all of old Spanish manufacture, 
having their dates upon them, as well as the places of cast- 
ing; — on one was " Barcelona, 1774;" another "1769;" another 
"Cadiz, 1767," &c., &c. Each one has its name cut upon it 
near the mouth, — "El Tigre, El Furor," &c. &c.; and some 
were carved with the arms and cross of Spain. 

To serve these guns, in case of any attempt of the enemy 
to regain possession of the city, or attack the fort, are large 
quantities of copper shot, round, grape, and canister, provi- 
ded by their former masters, and captured in large quantities 
in the city of Matamoras, where more ammunition and shot 
were taken than the United States had sent for the use of 
the army of occupation. (At Monterey, more than three 
times the amount here, was taken.) — Several mortars cap- 
tured from the city, of different sizes, were now placed in the 
fort, and a great number of brass, or composition bombs, 
that had been prepared for them, were piled up. 

Much has been said and written about these copper balls 
and shells, — of their being used by the Mexicans because 
they are more deadly, &c., &c. This is not the reason that 
they are used ; it is simply because, where they are manu- 
factured, in the silver mining districts, there are many mines 
of this metal, and it is cheaper than iron ; — and, besides the 
mines, much copper is worked out with the silver, and this 
is of but little value, while iron is difficult to be procured, and 
is of high price ; copper being worth one rial and a quartilla 
(or fifteen cents) per pound, and iron two rials and a medio 
(or thirty-one and one-fourth cents.) This refuse metal, then, 
is worked up into balls, and cast into shells. Throughout 
the whole of Mexico, wherever these are brought from the 
interior, they are found to be of copper entirely; but when 
procured on the coast, of iron. (The immense amount of 
balls and shells thrown by the Mexicans afterwards, from 
the forts of Vera Cruz, and from the castle of San Juan de 
Ulloa, were all of iron ; while the vast number brought to 
Cerro Gordo, from the interior, were all of copper.) 

Neither is there so much difference in the effects of wounds 



200 POISONOUS BALLS. 

produced by copper balls and those of iron and lead, as the 
letter writers, endeavoring to make capital out of every cir- 
cumstance, have induced the public to believe. If a copper 
ball is oxydized or rusted with green, that oxyde, of course, 
is poisonous ; that is, if any is left on the wound made by 
it ; but on a common cannon ball, after the process of load- 
ing and firing, but little, if any, is left ; — if the ball strikes a 
person any where about the body or head, death is the re- 
sult of nineteen cases out of twenty, from its very weight 
and force. A limb struck by it, of course is taken off, 
and the shattered extremity is amputated ; — the quantity of 
oxyde there, if any at all, never, in its effect, could be per- 
ceived. 

Again, if poisonous balls were the object of the Mexicans, 
they would take pains to expose these copper balls to the 
weather, or throw acid upon them, to rust them ; but so far 
is this from the case, that when they were first captured, 
they were always in good order and bright. — As for this non- 
sensical charge of poisoned balls, if these writers (if belong- 
ing to the army) had examined their own musket, rifle, or 
carbine cartridges, from the United States, they would have 
found all of the balls, upon taking off* the paper covering 
from them, covered with a thick coat of white oxyde of lead ; 
— and oxyde of lead is as poisonous as that of copper ; — so 
that the charge of using poisoned balls, on those grounds, 
can be made equally well against the United States as 
against Mexico ; and in both cases, the charge would be 
equally groundless. It is no more the object of one than it 
is of the other ; — both, make their balls of the cheapest ma- 
terial. 

— The heavy guns of the fort bear directly upon the city ; — 
two of these guns were hit in the bombardment, but not in- 
jured. — At the foot of the flag staff", within the fort, is the 
grave of Major Brown, who was killed at that time ; — in one 
of the angles of the fort were about twenty ]\Iexican pris- 
oners, who, when we visited it, were seated around, smoking 
and chatting, appearing well satisfied with their condition. 
These were captured with an ammunition wagon in the rear 



SKELETONS ON BATTLE FIELDS. 201 

of Arista's army, when in retreat towards the interior from 
Matamoras, by Colonel Garland, with a detachment of 
dragoons ; who, by General Taylor, had been sent in pursuit, 
and who went sixty-six miles. — These prisoners had here 
much space allowed them, and had built slight houses of 
cane for shelter ; — they were all clothed in their common 
dress, already described, and were cleanly in appearance. 

From this fort, the battle ground of Resaca de la Palma 
is distant about four miles, and that of Palo Alto about 
twelve miles, both a north-east course. It being now nearly 
six months since these battles had been fought, nothing 
was to be seen on the ground, save the graves, many of 
which had been disturbed by the wolves, and the scattered 
.skeletons of very many who found not a burial ; these lay 
as they fell : here in rows, from the sweeping effects of ar- 
tillery ; there singly, from musketry or bayonet ; — here was a 
skeleton with the back of the head torn off, lying as it fell, 
on the face, with the dried, sun cracked boots still on the 
fleshless feet ; there lay another, round the frame of which, 
still hanging together, was the belt and cartridge box ; — a 
torn uniform was on another; while the cap, as it fell from the 
head of another, still lay by the side of the skull ; — loose 
skulls, leg and arm bones, lay round in any quantity, as they 
had been dragged from their shallow resting places by the 
ravenous wolves ; — many, that had been slightly buried, were 
partly out of the ground. — The whole extended area pre- 
sented but a picture .of past destruction and death. 

— These four weeks, our regiment had been encamped on 
the ground enclosed by the "Agua Dulce^'' lake. — This contain- 
ed an area of about a thousand acres, of which about two hun- 
dred were cleared ; the remainder was covered with a heavy 
growth of cane and grass, which, together with the full 
amounts of grain received from the quartermaster's depart- 
ment in the city, improved the horses of the regiment finely. 
These horses had been so jaded and starved by the long 
march through the wilderness, that for the first two weeks 
they did not seem to improve any ; but after that time of 
rest, they began rapidly to regain their flesh and activity, 



202 CAMP RINGGOLD, AT AGUA DULCE LAKE. 

and at this time were becoming in good condition, improving 
every day. 

A finer situation for a cavalry camp, in an enemy's coun- 
try, could not be procured ; for the deep lake coming round 
like a crescent, both its points were near the river ; — here, 
at these openings, the guards were stationed. — The horses, 
therefore, had plenty of room in which to range ; plenty of 
grass and cane there ; — they could not get out ; neither could 
they be stolen ; — and even on the north side, if they did go 
out, as, after a few days, hundreds were allowed to do, they 
were on a large peninsula of the river, and could not stray- 
off. — The water of this lake was excellent for our use, and 
very convenient to our tents. 

We had been under a strict discipline, and a continual sys- 
tem of parades and drills, mostly by companies and battal- 
ions, together with the regimental dress parade, each even- 
ing, had been kept up. The first battalion was drilled by 
Lieutenant-colonel Allison ; the second by Major Water- 
house ; — sometimes on foot for hours at the sword, and then 
again on carbine or rifle drill ; marching, wheeling, and per- 
forming all kinds of evolutions, until they became easy and 
natural to all the men. — The camp was laid off in a paral- 
lelogram, on the inner bank of the lake, being about a quar- 
ter of a mile long, and two hundred feet deep ; in front was 
a splendid open parade ground, free from bushes or trees, 
upon which to exercise in drill and parade. 

There had been very little sickness in camp, compared 
to the number of men ; and the most of those that were 
sick, were, at first, taken into town, to the hospital, where 
there was every convenience for them, and more attention 
than they could have in camp. — Some of the men were dis- 
charged for sickness, though of these there were but few. — 
Captain Porter, of company G, resigned on account of his 
long continued bad health ; — he died on his return to New 
Orleans. — The vacancy was filled by the election of John 
L. T. Sneed, sergeant major of the regiment. 

There being regular hours for drill, and plenty of time for 
amusement besides, the men of the regiment found enough 



MEXICAN SERVANTS IN CAMP. 203 

of that, in various ways ; though the favorite method seem- 
ed to be to play ball on the parade ground. — Nearly all of the 
regiment were in the camp each day ; a regulation having 
been made, that but four men of each company, should go 
into the city in a day ; and these could only pass the guard 
at the point of the lake, by a written permit from the officer 
of the company, countersigned by the officer of the day. — 
This arrangement was ordered, on account of some who were 
in every day, absent from drill ; and not only so, but they 
came to camp at night " high up " and noisy ; — for, although 
but few of them had any money, yet, as it was known that 
the regiment would soon be paid, there were many in town 
who would trust them for liquor, clothing, or anything else 
they wanted, and lend them money also. 

Many Mexicans, with bread, cakes, fruit, loaves of brown 
sugar, called pclo}icillas, and other things, to sell, were in and 
out of camp continually ; it being an established rule, in the 
army regulations, not to obstruct the passage of any person 
into camp, with provisions to sell. — Several of the officers 
employed some of these young Mexicans as servants. — In 
company G, the ffi'st lieutenant got one ; the second lieuten- 
ant already had one in his service, who had left the body of 
Mexican traders met in the prairie, to go with him ; (his name 
was Jose, and all thought him an honest fellow) ; — the second 
assistant lieutenant also employed a dandy looking chap, 
named Ccsario, and the mess in which was the author, had 
another, by name Bartolo, to cook for us. — So, in the com- 
pany, we had four spruce looking Mexicans, all recommen- 
ded to be honest and faithful ; — and four greater rascals 
never went unhung. 

They went on for some days first rate, until confidence 
was reposed in them, and opportunities given them to secure 
plunder ; when one night three of them put out. — Having 
got regular permits to go through the guard and go into 
town on Saturday night, to attend mass, as they said ; — they 
waited until nearly dark, and then cleared out, and never 
returned. — Jose, who had been entrusted, by Lieutenant An- 
derson, with the care of all his clothing, had helped himself 



204 RANCHOS. 

with a liberal hand, to many articles, taking them off with 
him. — Bartolo took, from our mess, a frock coat, a fine Macki- 
naw blanket, a splendid dueling pistol, and a handsome 
double barreled pistol, beside other little things. — We found, 
upon inquiry of the Americans residing here, that there was 
no confidence to be placed in any of this class, and, in fact, 
but very little in any class of the Mexicans ; being all deceit- 
ful and treacherous. — Honor might, indeed, be found among 
some, but these were few and far between. Our mess tried 
no more of them as servants ; taking, as before, each man, 
his regular days in succession, in cooking. 

Now, having spoken of the city, and the camp, after we 
had become somewhat accustomed to the new situation in 
which we were placed, the author will resume the original form 
of the diary ; giving in detail, for the remainder of the time 
the regiment was encamped at Matamoras, the description 
of the scenes that continued to meet his eye in camp and 
city, from day to day, as they occurred, and relating all in- 
formation connected with the manners, customs, &c., of these 
people, in the same order that they came to his observation ; 
being convinced that, in this way, they will be more interest- 
ing to the reader. 

November 2dth. Around the lake at which we were en- 
camped, were three Ranc/ios, {see plan of Matamoras), which 
term is here used to denote a farm, whether for the purpose 
of raising stock or cultivating the ground. — Each of these 
three Ranches was populous, having many houses, construc- 
ted of cane, and daubed with clay, for the habitation of the 
laborers in the employ of the owner of the same ; — these la- 
borers are known by the name of ^'- jpconesP or " ranchcros ;'''' 
and as their appearance had excited attention, as they 
moved about at their labor, and as their situation, as a class 
of people, had become known, the author, with one of his 
comrades, obtaining leave of absence for the day, determined 
to spend it among them. The morning roll call and 
drill were over ; when, saddling our horses, and taking 
our carbines, as security against the Mexican scouts and 
spies that we knew were in numbers around, we rode out 



CULTIVATED FIELDS, 20^ 

bj'' the northern extremity of the lake, to the rancho on 
the west of it; which many of the boys had already fre- 
quently visited, for the purpose of getting clothing washed. 

— The fields that we passed were in a state of cultivation ; 
were enclosed by ditches and embankments, on the top of 
which was a slight fence, made of crooked posts of mus- 
quit, set at short intervals in the ground, worked in between 
with the small branches of the same tree ; which, being cov- 
ered with innumerable thorns, prevented the passage of men 
or animals ; — these brush fences last many years, by reason 
of the durability of the musquit timber, even in the small 
twigs. (But it should be remembered that these fences, 
are by no means universal in Mexico ; for large tracts 
of land are, in many places, cultivated without any fence ; 
the herds of horses and cattle being prevented from trespass- 
ing upon them by the herdsmen, or vaqueros, as they call 
them.) 

In these fields, which were very large, and perfectly level, 
were growing corn, cotton, and sugar cane ; — all looked well, 
but more especially the cotton attracted our attention, being 
large, thrifty, and boiled to the top. The staple of this was 
very long and fine, and in every respect equal to the " Sea 
Island " of our country, as said by those acquainted with the 
latter. — This cotton, although producing well, would yield 
double or treble the quantity that it does, if it were cultivated 
in the manner of that of the United States. — The same is true 
of the corn ; which, though rather too far south to flourish 
luxuriantly, yet, even with the little labor bestowed here upon 
it, produces well ; — sugar cane, throughout all this part of 
Mexico, grows finely, and is filled with the richest juice ; 
excelling, far, the cane of Louisiana. — The fields that we 
passed were crowded with rank weeds among the cotton, 
corn, and cane. 

A half hour's slow ride brought us to the first musquit 
fence, surrounding the rancho, or collection of houses ; we 
passed through the bars, and were then in a large area, 
nearly square, of eight or ten acres, used for the herding of 
cattle ; — from this, we passed through another set of bars. 



206 VISIT TO A RANCHO. 

into an enclosure of about the same size, with cane houses 
in rows, up and down the length of it. These houses were 
all thatched with straw, had dirt floors and no chimneys. — 
Around these was a group of rancheros, or country Mexi- 
cans ; the men with their blankets drawn closely around 
their shoulders, and their arms folded beneath them, holding 
one part of them up over their chins and necks, — for the 
morning was cool ; — they looked at us, from under their 
broad brimmed sombreros, with a surly, scowling appearance 
on their dark countenances, which certainly indicated no great 
love to us, and which love, by the same kind of looks, we in- 
stantly returned. — Not so the women, however; for they had 
been visited by our boys before, who, as before said, had got 
them to do washing for them ; and when done, had paid 
them promptly ; — and these women were very anxious to 
get more to do, to get more " ^05 n'oZ^^" (twenty-five cents). 
These came out to us, several together, before we dismoun- 
ted : — " Buenos dias, seTwirs,^^ (good day, gentlemen), said all, 
with a smile, that made the men look more black at us. — 
Five of these kept near us, looking at our horses, and pass- 
ing to and fro, — we thought exchanging significant looks be- 
tween themselves ; — and, as instances of robbery and murder 
were happening every day, around, our suspicions were in- 
stantly aroused. — We asked the women who these men 
were, and they shook their heads, as though they knew not, 
and made signs, unperceived by them, that they lived a long 
ways off", pointing to their horses tied outside the next fence, 
which we had not noticed. 

This was enough ; — putting, instantly, caps on our guns, 
we stepped out of the house, and my companion confronted 
the one who appeared the most surly and most forward, and 
addressed him : — " You G-d d-m-d yellow looking, surly 
son of a b-t-h ! what are you doing here ? — take yourselves 
off', or I'll send daylight through your d-m-d liver, and that 
quick." " No entiende Ingles,^'' (don't understand English), 
said the Mexican, shaking his fore finger before his face in 
their significant manner, accompanied with two or three 
wags of the head, keeping time with the syllables of rw-en-ti- 



CANALES' MEN. 207 

en-de ; but still a little confased at the bold front of my 
companion, as towards him, he immediately advanced ; — 
" G-d-d-m you ; vamos aqui,'" (begone from here), shouted he. 
They took him at his word, and, with surly looks, cleared 
out, mounted their horses, and were off. — No sooner were 
they gone, than an old man who belonged to the rancho 
seemed relieved, and said to us, " Muchas gracias scnorcs, csos 
liojnbi'es son de Canalcs^'' (thank you gentlemen, those are Ca- 
nales' men). *'D-m it," said my companion, " we ought to 
have killed two or three of them ; what a pity we did not 
know it before." 

Canales is a robber captain and a general ; the pest of 
this part of the country ; a foe to Americans, and about as 
much so to the Mexicans, plundering them, where there is 
■no other opportunity. — His men are scattered and concealed, 
and all efforts by our army to take him, or destroy his force, 
have, so far, been unavailing; — his scouts and spies, of which 
these five were part, arc continually watching around every 
post and garrison of the American army, and at this time 
were numerous around us, at camp and in the city. Many of 
our troops found singly, were lassoed or shot, and several had, 
within a few days, escaped narrowly from their hands ; the 
scamps seizing their opportunities, when two or three could 
pounce upon one. 

We remained at this rancho for an hour or two, talking 
the little Spanish we had picked up, and learning more, from 
the Scnoritas, or girls — {Scilor, in Spanish, is Mr.; Scnora, 
Mrs.; Scnorita, Miss.) — We easily learned the names of ob- 
jects, having well the phrase, " Comase llama cste'^ — " What 
do you call this ?" The answers, when given, were always 
accompanied with the same question, to know the English 
name of the article mentioned. — It was amusing to hear 
their endeavors to pronounce our words ; and their failures 
to do so were accompanied by bursts of laughter, and mer- 
riment from themselves, though, probably, our pronunciation 
of their words was equally amusing to them ; yet they never 
laughed at us. They seemed in good humor and happy, 
though their state, as will be mentioned, was no better than 



208 RANCHOS AND HACIENDAS. 

slavery. — We left this rancho, and proceeded to the next one, 
on the southern part of the lake ; keeping, in the meantime, 
a good look-out to find some more of Canales' men, — but 
they were gone. — At this rancho we remained a short time, 
and then proceeded on round to the south-east corner of the 
lake, opposite to the one by which we had left. At this cor- 
ner, on the road into the camp, was another rancho, the mas- 
ter of which owned the land enclosed by the lake, on which 
was the camp; — all the passage to and from which, was 
through his enclosures. — This man had much land in cotton 
and corn, and many ''■ peones^'' or rancheros, in his service. — 
We had become pretty well acquainted with the old fellow, 
who was on good terms with us — the occupation of his land 
and pasturage being paid for. We found him very commu- 
nicative in answer to our questions, and in showing us all his 
tools and insti'uments of husbandry. We remained with 
him for two or three hours, then rode to all the other ranchos 
in the neighborhood — spending the day in our observations^ 
and returning to camp after sundown ; finding them all about 
alike. (We afterward found the system of servitude, or " pe- 
onage," and the customs and manner of living of these peo- 
nes, to be the same throughout all the parts of Mexico that 
we visited ; and were informed that it was the same in every 
State of the republic. Their agriculture, too, was about 
alike throughout the whole country.) 

A large plantation is called a hacienda. — These are often, as 
the reader will learn in the course of this work, of such size 
as to include in their limits extensive tracts of country, cov- 
ering from five hundred to three or four thousand square 
miles ; and the collections of laborers on these form large 
towns. A small farm is called a rancJio, whether it is for ag- 
riculture, or the raising of stock, of horses, mules, and cat- 
tle, &c. — The owners of these ranchos sometimes own the 
land they occupy ; at others, it is a leased portion of a vast 
hacienda. — Sometimes the owner of the hacienda leases no 
particular part, but grants the right to the proprietor of the ran- 
cho to graze a large number of horses, — or cahallada, as a drove 
is called, — or herds of cattle, over the whole extent of the 



SYSTEM OF PEONAGE OR SERVITUDE. 209 

hacienda at pleasure ; receiving for this a compensation of, 
commonly, from thirty to forty dollars a year, for each hun- 
dred head so grazed. The laborers on these haciendas and 
ranchos are the peones, and, although nominally free, as 
said before, are in a worse condition than the negro slaves of 
our southern States. — The manner of the bondage is this : — An 
individual, on his arriving at age, must work for himself, and 
his only chance, ^vithout he has a trade, to which very few 
are brought up, is to obtain employment at a hacienda or ran- 
clio ; he applies, and is received into employ. The wages 
are fixed by a general rule, and in these there is no differ- 
ence : the amount is three riales (thirty-seven and a half 
cents) per day, and an alnmil (a quart less than a peck) of 
corn per week, if he is single ; but, if married, two almudes. 
— He is only paid for the days he works. — Ke is furnished 
Avith a house or cabin, and a patch of ground to cultivate for 
himself, in which to raise a little corn, cabbage, " c/if/f," or red 
pepper — a necessary article with the Mexican. — The law 
gives him the right to demand and receive one rial (twelve 
and a half cents) per day, in money, as part of his wages ; 
the other two-thirds are to be taken in goods for himself or 
family ; — this twelve and a half cents per day to be paid 
him, however, allowing that he owes his master nothing; but 
if he does, that is retained to pay the debt. During the rainy 
season, there is but little work, neither is there upon any of the 
numerous festivals of the church, — for all attend most strictly 
to their religious duties ; and so a common average of labor 
is four days out of seven, or two hundred and eight days in 
the year; — allowing one to be free from sickness, he earns 
seventy-eight dollars for the support of himself and family. 
His meat he buys of his master ; his clothing for himself 
and family comes from the same. He pays for these things 
double what they cost the master (that is the usual percent- 
age) ; but these are not all his expenses. — When his birth- 
day comes around, or the birth-day of his wife, an offering 
worth some two or three dollars is, by custom, made to their 
patron saints ; — this, in whatever shape it is, must also be 
procured from his master. If any little enterprise is pro- 
14 



210 SYSTEM OF PEONAGE OR SERVITUDE. 

jected, his saint is prayed to and promised gifts of wax can- 
dles, &c., for his protection and assistance; and these must be 
paid, at any rate, if he has to rob to procure the means. If 
a child is born, the christening, without which no one would 
be satisfied, costs him several dollars. A marriage in his 
family costs him twenty at least, and a burial fifteen. If 
none of these happen, his seventy-eight dollars will hardlj^ 
feed and clothe himself and family for a year ; or at the very 
outside, will not more than do it, at the high prices he must 
pay ; and he is compelled to get these articles of his master 
alone. If one of them does occur, he falls more or less in 
debt to his master, who is always perfectly willing to allow 
him to go into this twenty-five or thirty dollars, which is soon 
done ; and then he is no more or less than a slave for life ; 
— for the law gives to the master the right to his services, 
on the same terms, until he shall pay the debt he owes ; that 
is, until the one-third of his wages, the twelve and a half 
cents per day, will amount to that sum, — for the remaining 
two-thirds he is obliged to take in goods, as before, at the 
same high prices ; — the whole of his wages will barely 
clothe and feed him, allowing him meat once a week ; and 
how is he to get out? He never will ; he never expects to ; 
he does not endeavor to do it ; for even suppose, by the most 
extraordinary care and frugality for a long time, he should 
get out of debt ; what then ? No course is left for him but 
the same way and the same end. 

As a general rule, whenever a peon marries he goes into 
servitude ; for the curate's or priest's fees, and cost of license, 
and publishing, is seventeen dollars. By the custom of mar- 
riage, too, no young man can obtain a wife without making 
her a bridal present of clothing, &c., or don, as it is called ; 
which costs him at the least thirty dollars. This is to him 
an important item, and is, as well as the priest's fees, ob- 
tained from the master; — he must also pay at least ten dol- 
lars for a feast and fandango or dance on the occasion ; and 
these expenses render him a slave, as said before. Instances 
are common of young mechanics, who, wishing to marry, 
and not being able to raise the means, have obtained them 



SYSTEM OF PEONAGE OR SERVITUDE. 21| 

by binding themselves for a year or more, to work for the 
person who furnished them. 

While thus in debt, even of but one dollar, he is as much 
a slave as the negro of the south, and is in a far worse con- 
dition. — His master can throw him into prison, and keep 
him three days there, without assigning any reason what- 
ever !— and, on the slightest reason assigned to the alcalde, 
can keep him in for an indefinite period. Neither is there 
but one way in which he can ever leave his master, and that 
is this : if he is displeased, he can go to another hacienda or 
rancho, and ask the owner thereof to buy him ; that is, to 
pay the debt he owes the first, and to take him into his ser- 
vice ; if he is willing to do so, the latter sends a note to the 
former, binding himself to pay the peon's debt; and then the 
peon is passed over to him, for he has bought him to all in- 
tents and purposes-, as fairly as though he had been, like the 
southern slave, put up on the block, and struck off" to the 
highest bidder ;— the same wages are allowed him as before. 
But even this is rare, for it is not to the interest of the master 
to allow their peones to change, and therefore the applica- 
tions for such change, by mutual agreement of the masters, 
are usually refused. 

When the ownerof an hacienda or rancho sells the same, 
he transfers the debts and services of the peones upon it to 
the purchaser, and to him, then, their labors belong, as to 
the first. As before said, the state of a peon, though nomi- 
nally free, is worse than that of a slave in the United States; 
this is true for several reasons : 

1st. They are in every respect equal in duration of servi- 
tude, both being for Hfe. 

2d. Many slaves can earn as much money for themselves 
severally, in the course of a year, as the wages of a peoa 
amount to ; some more, some less. 

3d. Every slave has a far better habitation than a peon, 
and has a full supply of bread and meat, which last the 
peon cannot often get ; and has besides as good an opportu- 
nity to raise vegetables for himself as the other. 

4th. The slave is well clothed, together with his family,. 



212 SYSTEM OF PEONACxE OR SERVITUDE. 

with no expense to himself; and the money that he earns 
can go entirely to procure articles of gratification and com- 
fort ; while the peon has to provide these things himself, and 
all his scanty allowance is consumed in it. 

5th. The slave can trade where he pleases, and buy at the 
cheapest rate, thus making his money purchase the more ; 
while the peon is compelled to buy of his master at an exor- 
bitant price. 

6th. The slave, or any of his family, when sick, has the 
attendance of the same physician employed by his master ; 
and every care is taken for his recovery : for if he should 
die, the master loses irrecoverably his value ; while if the 
peon is sick, his wife or children, they get no medical atten- 
dance, for they cannot pay for it ; neither is his recovery an 
object of much interest to his master, who, if he dies, only 
loses a small amount, very seldom over thirty dollars, and 
that in goods that cost him not over fifteen. — If his wife or 
children die, the master loses nothing. 

7th. The slave, when old, is taken care of, fed and clothed 
by his master ; who, by law, in the slave states, is forced to 
it ; and the old slave suffers not, neither does the young one 
look forward with apprehension of suffering to the time 
when he shall get old ; while the master of the peon is not 
under the slightest obligation to retain him in his service a 
single day ; — by giving that peon his debt, he discharges him ; 
neither can he be compelled even to contribute to his support. 
— So much for the free service of the peones or rancheros of 
Mexico. 

One thing more : that is, the women get no wages, and in 
fact earn nothing, and are not called into the account of la- 
bor. The father may sell the services of his son or daugh- 
ter until they are free ; and such sale is legal and binding 
upon the minor, and is often transacted. — As said before, 
throughout Mexico, this system is the same. 



CHAPTER VI. 

November 30th. — Pay day for our regiment had come at 
last. Two companies were paid off each day, receiving five 
month's pay, or $100 per man : taking near $100,000 for the 
regiment, or $10,000 to each company, including the monthly 
pay of officers ; — money now became as plenty in the camp 
as before it liad been scarce. — It being the turn of company 
G and H, this day to be paid, early in the morning we were 
ordered to saddle up and go into town. Every one was in 
line; though for several days back, many, when their names 
were called for drill or fatigue duty, had reported themselves 
as sick ; too much so to turn out ; but this morning, every 
man was enjoying excellent health. 

The morning was pleasant, but the gulf breeze v^^as very 
strong, and blew the dust, as we went into town, directly in 
cur faces ; — with such force were the little particles of earth 
and sand driven against our faces and eyes, that a continual 
stinging sensation was experienced ; — no one could keep his 
eyes open a moment together. (And here, reader, allow us 
to state, that this city, Matamoras, has the strongest and 
the steadiest wind, and the most of it, of any place from 
Maine to Yucatan ; and moreover, that common dust is re- 
garded as nothing here, though it should be so thick that 
one could not see his companion ten feet through it, provi- 
ded that the wind is gentle ; but when the blustering ten 
knot breeze, as sailors would term it, rushes along in irregu- 
lar gusts, and lifts the sand, dust, and chips, and drives 
them all round together, then every one turns his back to 
it, to save his face and eyes : all are obliged to keep out of 

(213^ 



214 PARADE IN PLAZA. 

it as much as possible. Neither imagine, reader, that this is 
occasionally so ; as, once in a long interval, a cold spring 
wind at our own homes, comes rushing and whistling down 
the roads, and through the yards, whirling dust and sand, lit- 
tle chips and leaves about, and throws them into the Avin- 
dows and doors of the cleanly swept apartments, to the an- 
noyance of the tidy housekeepers, — for these gusts play their 
pranks, and are done ; — but here, in this blessed city of Mata- 
moras, it is so all the time. In any moment, from ten o'clock 
each day, until sunset, the wind stops not ; the dust flies 
along the streets in clouds, obscuring everything, and that 
from one end of the day to the other ; and every day in the 
dry season it is the same everlasting dust. The people have 
a wonderful facility in turning quickly round, to save their 
eyes.) — We were soon in town ; and, to the blast of the bu- 
gles, trotted through the streets, to the plaza, making the 
crowds of Mexicans clear out of the way. Here, forming a 
line across the plaza, we paid our respects to the military 
commander, by saluting with our swords ; — galloped round, in 
files and sections, and columns — turning, forming, scattering, 
re-forming, &c., &c., very much to his gratification, as he 
stood on a high balcony above, and as much to the annoyance 
of the guard of infantry, who stood with arms presented below, 
and to the crowds of Mexicans and Americans on the side- 
walks, who, on account of the clouds of sand and dust kicked 
up by our horses, wished us at the d-v-1, as we heard some ex- 
press themselves. — After this show was over, a rapid move- 
ment took us away from the plaza, and round the corners of 
several squares, to the paymaster's office ; in front of which we 
wheeled into line and halted. — " Attention ! squadron !'' shout- 
ed the commander. — " Pi-cpare to dismount .'" Each man, dis- 
engaging his right foot from the stirrup, leaned to the left. — 
^^ Dismount!'''' Every one was on his feet, amid the rattle of 
swords and carbines, and advanced to his horse's head, and 
stood still. — " Tell off in Jives, commencing at the right — tell off!'''' 
" One, two, three, four, five ; one, two, three, four. Jive ;'''' and so 
on the sound went tlu'ough the line. — ^'^ Number Jive, hold 
horses!^^ — The bridles of the four were handed to him of that 



SCENE AT PAY TABLE. 215 

number. ^^ Other numbers, forward — march! — Halt!'''' '■^ Right — 
dress!'' " Right— face .'" " Forward— march .'" " Left— turn .'" 
The head of the column entered, by the turn, the lofty brick 
archway of the building ; and tramp ! tramp ! tramp ! echo- 
ed the sound from the arches above, to the measured tread 
on the brick floor. The command of '■'• Jicdt !''' sounded loud 
within: — the column was steady and still. '■^ Front!'" — In 
an instant each turned. " Right — dress! — Every man be here 
when his name is called! — Dismissed !'''' 

Immediately, the names of four sergeants were called, and 
they proceeded up stairs, and soon came down with their 
pockets crammed full of silver. Corporals followed, and 
came back in the same way ; — then three men went ; — three 
more, &c., &c. Upon each one's name being called by the 
sergeant, he entered the room and advanced to the table, be- 
hind which sat the paymaster, attended by his clerks ; before 
him was the " pay roll " of the company, or the list of names, 
and amounts due to each, made out in regular form, on large 
blanks furnished for each company. On the table was a 
large quantity of silver, gold, and treasury notes, piled up. 
— The name being called, the paymaster glanced at the pay 
roll, saw the amount, and handed out on the table. The sol- 
dier quickly transferred it to his pocket and retired ; and the 
next name was called. 

The scene below was amusing. As each descended, he in- 
quired for all to whom he was indebted ; and each one was 
paying and receiving, and squaring accounts, with an abso- 
lute pleasure. So long had they been without money, save 
the little they had borrowed in Matamoras, that now the pos- 
session of it was highly gratifying. Every debt was paid 
on the spot ; no one tried to avoid them. 

When all were paid, the horse holders were changed, and 
those who had served called in, and received their pay. Af- 
ter this, liberty of absence for an hour was given to all, to 
go through town and settle the debts that they had contract- 
ed during their stay. All went, and although most of them 
took hold of a little " John Barleycorn," as might be expect- 
ed, on their payment, yet very few became intoxicated; some 



216 SCENE AT ALCALDE'S COURT. 

did, however, as will be mentioned at the close of the day. 
— While out, one of our messmates came across " Bartolo," 
the Mexican servant spoken of before, and immediately ap- 
prehended and brought him to the pay office. — As there was 
no doubt of his guilt, we determined to hand him over to the 
alcalde ; to have him punished, as well as to see the course of 
Mexican justice. As the alcalde's court did not open until 
three P. M., we obtained permission to remain in town for 
the remainder of the day. — The squadron, after having re- 
assembled, remounted and moved toward the camp. — When 
the time of opening the court arrived, we proceeded thither, 
taking with us the culprit, Bartolo, who was most excessive- 
ly alarmed at the idea of going before the Mexican magis- 
trate, and an old French merchant accompanying us, who 
spoke English and Spanish, to interpret our charge. — We 
entered the room of the alcalde, and being courteously invi- 
ted by him, seated ourselves on the settees ranged around. 
• — This room was about forty by twenty feet, with two large 
perpendicularly iron barred windows ; and two doors, — one 
opening on the street, the other, opposite, into an interior 
court or garden, thickly set with orange trees and flower beds. 
At one end of this room was a large table, covered with red 
baize; behind which, in an arm-chair, sat the alcalde. He 
was a dark complexioned Mexican of about fifty years of age ; 
neatly dressed in American style ; and with an appearance 
of courteous dignity about him, which made a favorable im- 
pression upon us. — At his left hand sat his escribiente, or sec- 
retary ; at his right stood the alguacil, (answering to our con- 
stable). — On the table before him were several volumes of 
Spanish law, and by them lay his staff of office ; that is, a 
gold-headed cane, with a tassel hanging to it. This is called 
" Baston de Justicia,''^ and without it an alcalde is never seen. 
— The alguacil, too, had a cane, but it was without the tassel 
He also had a " machete^'' or sw^ord, as an insignia of his of 
fice. 

Bartolo was placed before the table, and we were called 
upon for our accusation ; which we made, of course, in Eng- 
lish. This was interpreted to the alcalde by the old French- 



SCENE AT ALCALDE'S COURT. 217 

man. After this, Bartolo was called upon for his defence, 
which he made in rapid Spanish. This was interpreted to 
us. — He denied the theft, and stated that he was going out 
to camp to resume his duty, when he was apprehended by 
us. — Our answer, that he was in a bye place, near the mar- 
ket, with some trinkets to sell, and that he had endeavored 
to avoid us ; and, moreover, that he had kept away, after his 
robbery, for two weeks; was interpreted to the alcalde, in 
his hearing, and he had then no more to say. — The magis- 
trate, when the accusation and defence were through, after 
a short pause, sentenced him to be confined in the prison for 
one week, and to labor on the public streets for a month ; 
and he was immediately led olf by the alguacil. 

It appeared singular, in one view, to see a Mexican brought 
up for taking fire arms, &c., from the open invaders and 
enemies of his country, — who now held his native city by 
force, and who were still taking other towns, and killing in 
battle the citizens of the country, — to see him brought be- 
fore a Mexican magistrate, upon the accusation of those en- 
emies, and punished by that magistrate, acting under Mexi- 
can laws, for the same ; — but "might is right." Undoubted- 
ly, had Bartolo never been found by us, — if, in after time, he 
had related the account of his stealing these arms to this 
same alcalde, that magistrate would have praised him for it, 
and told him that it was right and patriotic to deprive the 
common enemy of all such things possible ; — but as it was, 
he punished him. 

Through the interpreter, the alcalde entered into conver- 
sation with us, until new business took his attention. We 
left him as he made a low bow, saying, " adios, senores,^'' which 
we returned. Mounting our horses, w^e took ihb road for 
camp . 

As said before, some of the men, after getting their mo- 
ney, drank too freely. When we were passing out of the 
city by fort Paredes, we learned that, a few moments before, 
one of our men had been drowned. — The strong wind had 
blown the hat off his head, and carried it over the bank of 
the river into the stream. He, being under the influence of 



218 ABSENTEES FROM ROLL CALL. 

liquor, went down the bank, and plunged in to get it, having 
his heavy sword on, and his pockets full of silver. He swam 
a few strokes and sank ; — his body had not then been found. 
Captain Caswell, to whose company he belonged, and part 
of the company, were making every endeavor to recover it, 
but were unsuccessful. 

December 2d. The bugles called us up in the morning 
early, as usual, though there was some delay in forming the 
lines for morning roll call ; for, the last night, we had re- 
ceived the visit of another " norther," and the air was cold 
and chilly ; so much so, that some of the men preferred to 
have their names crossed as absentees, than to come out of 
their tents ; by this they would be compelled to serve on wa- 
gon guard for a day, attending the wagons into town, and 
assisting to load them with forage and provisions, and upon 
their return, to unload them ; but these men, in thus pretend- 
ing to be so chilled with the cold, were " possuming," as the 
word is, in camp, for deception. — They grumbled in the hear- 
ing of the sergeants and lieutenants, about being placed on 
wagon guard ; but it was what tht^y secretly wished ; — for 
the duty was light, and done in a few moments, and by it, 
they were enabled to get into the city and spend two or 
three hours agreeably there ; and avoid, on the other hand, 
the long battalion drill after breakfast. Only four men, as 
said before, from each company, beside this guard, are al- 
lowed to go in one day. 

There were but two passways out of the area enclosed by 
the lake, and at these were the picket guards ; — the sergeants 
of which were very particular in examining each man's writ- 
ten permit ; but the wagons, each with its guard, went in and 
out without being stopped. 

After breakfast the bugles sounded the saddle call, as 
usual, and our horses were saddled, our arms buckled on, and 
we soon were in ranks. The lieutenant-colonel was never 
tired of drilling the battalion. — He wanted it, if possible, to 
excel, in precision of movement, the regular dragoons ; and 
before we left this camp, the dragoons could not equal us as 
a body, in evolutions ; though sometimes it would happen 



MEXICAN PLOWS AND CARTS. 219 

that the men from some cause or other, would get careless ; 
and finally, when in this way, some difficult manoeuvre 
would tie them all up in a snarl ; and it would be several 
moments before some of them could find their places again ; 
having forgotten their number in platoon and in section. — 
This was the case to-day ; the rear of the column got into 
confusion. — The lieutenant-colonel drew up his tall, com- 
manding person upon his horse ; (he was, in size, a small 
Goliah) ; and, with his sword above his head, he swore, by 
all that was holy, to the effect that, if the battalion did not 
drill better, he would continue to exercise it constantly, until 
the fires in the " lower regions " should burn down and be 
re-kindled ! The men concluded, from what they had heard 
of those regions, that this, probably, would take a long time ; 
and that the cheaper way would be to pay more attention 
to his immediate instructions ; and this they did for the rest 
of the drill, and acquitted themselves admirably. 

After the drill was over, one of my mess-mates and my- 
self having the day to go to town, let our horses remain sad- 
dled. — Our permits from the captain, and the signature of 
the officer of the day, at the guard tents, were quickly ob- 
tained ; — we then passed the guard, and being in no hurry, 
stopped at the first rancho. The old man, the owner of this, 
was fixing a plow ; aud as all these, together with other 
farming tools, were alike in rudeness throughout Mexico, and 
already had much attracted our attention, they are worth a 
description, to show how far behind the present age of im- 
provement these people are in agriculture. 

The plows are similar to those represented of the ancients, 
having a long beam, one end of w^hich is fastened to the 
yoke on the foreheads of the oxen, by thongs of raw hide ; 
across the other end is placed a transverse piece, the upper 
part of which is made small and bent for a handle ; the 
lower part is flattened and pointed, to dig into the ground. — 
That is the whole of the implement, a Mexican plow ; — the 
furrow that it makes is but a scratch in the ground. — They 
use but few carts ; these are extremely rude : — One long 
piece of round timber is the tongue and part of the frame ; 



220 MEXICAN PRIEST. 

two other pieces, the length of the body are parallel to it, 
and these are strongly pinned in their places, by cross pieces 
large and rude : — crooked musquit branches make the sides ; 
these are lashed firmly together by strips of raw hide ; — all 
this forms the body. — The axletree is large, and the wheels 
are more rude still ; — a piece of live oak, or other large tim- 
ber, (which is difficult to procure), is hewed out, four feet 
long, two feet wide, and a foot and a half thick ; this piece, 
so shaped, is cut down on either end to the thickness of four 
inches ; leaving, however, a protuberance in the centre, on 
both sides, resembling, in shape, the common wagon hub ; — 
through this is the hole made for the axletree ; — two felloes, 
made very large, placed upon either side of this middle, 
wide piece, completes the circumference of the wheel ; — 
these felloes are confined to their places by two cross pieces, 
tenoned through the wide middle piece, and into the felloes 
themselves, and secured by wooden pins ; — linchpins of wood 
are put in, and the cumbrous concern is finished. But little 
use is made of these, for almost everything is transported on 
the backs of mules and jacks, as we will notice in the fu- 
ture pages of this work. — The oxen pull these carts, as the 
plows, by a yoke, or a straight piece of timber, lashed by 
strings of raw hide to their horns, and in front of these. — 
Their hoes are rough pieces of iron, one part turned back, 
shaped like a spike, and driven into the end of a stick for 
a handle ; every other implement is of the same style. 

At this rancho we fell in company with a Sacerdote, priest, 
who had come out from town, and with whom we rode in 
company back. He was dressed in a long black robe, and 
wore a singular shaped three-cornered cap. He had learn- 
ed a little English, during the time our forces had been in 
possession of the city ; and with our little Spanish, we man- 
aged to keep up a conversation. He was a man, apparent- 
ly, of education, and of liberal principles ; or so he assumed, 
to us. Every ranchero that we met, saluted him with the ut- 
most deference and respect. On arriving at the city, at his 
invitation we went with him to the cathedral, a lai'ge unfin- 
ished church on the plaza, mentioned before, where we be- 



FUNERAL PROCESSIONS. 221 

came acquainted with two more of his companions. They 
took apparent pleasure in showing us the silver censers, and 
other paraphernalia of their worship, inlaid with gold. They 
said that these were manufactured in New York. While 
we were there, two soldiers of the regulars — Irishmen, and 
Catholics — came to confess to them. This ceremony was at- 
tended to apparently in the same manner as though the sol- 
diers had been Mexicans. After this, one of the priests got 
up, and pointing upwards, said, "oiie God;"' and at the same 
time throwing one arm around the Catholic soldier's neck, 
and the other on my companion's, he said, " Catolico, Protcs- 
tantc, el www2o"-( Catholic and Protestant are all alike). Whe- 
ther he believed this or not, however, is uncertain. — These 
priests are not allowed to marry, by the tenets of their faith ; 
but we were informed that many of them were surrounded 
by groups of boys and gilds, bearing often a strong resem- 
blance to them, who called them tio (uncle). — We rose, and 
left them with the usual parting salutation, ''adios, scnores.'''' 

On coming out to the plaza, we saw two funeral proces- 
sions entering it, by chance at the same moment, from the 
opposite sides ; and they made with each other a strong con- 
trast. — One was of a deceased Indiana soldier. — The coffin 
was in one of the government carts, slowly proceeding to 
the grave-yard ; behind this, were a drummer and two fifers ; 
they were playing the melancholy notes of the " Dead March," 
while with slow and measured step came the escort, of the 
company to which the deceased had belonged. Every passer- 
by stopped, as the procession in order moved on. 

The other was of a Mexican soldier who had been wound- 
ed at Resaca de la Palma, and who had lingered until this 
time. — This procession was headed by three Mexicans, with 
clarionettes, who played quick and lively music; while 
the whole moved on helter-skelter, having no order, as 
fast as the bearers could hurry on the bier. These set it 
down when tired, and others took their place. Near the bier 
followed a Mexican, in a white shirt and pantaloons, with a 
red sash around his waist. He had a large bunch of rockets 
under his ann — called by them cuetas, — a brand of fire in one 



222 MATAMORAS CITY PRISON. 

hand, and a cigar in his mouth. Every moment or two he 
touched a rocket to the brand, and threw it from him ; — these 
exploded loudly, and seemed to us an odd accompaniment to 
a funeral. Their rapid, irregular movements, soon brought 
them to the entrance of the church, where they halted a mo- 
ment, and the rocket bearer discharged two or three more of 
the noisy articles in the same way, and then all entered. — 
We followed. — The bier was set down, and the priest went 
through a service in a rapid way, as fast as he could speak, 
ending it by shaking from a chalice a quantity of holy water 
on the coffin ; which was then again taken up; and with the 
same irregularity, and explosion of crackers, hurried oft" to 
the grave-yard. Shortly afterward, the funeral of a child 
came in the same way, save that the coffin was covered with 
artificial flowers, and borne on the shoulders of one of the 
attendants. — As many crackers were fired, the same service 
Avas chattered through, and in the same manner they hurried 
off to the place of interment. 

We left the church and visited the prison, opposite, over 
the plaza. A Mexican soldier, with his musket, stood at the 
entrance, as sentinel. Stepping aside, he allowed us to pass 
through the dark entrance to a heavy door, where stood an- 
other. This one opened the door, and we passed into the 
prison yard. — The prisoners were not confined in separate 
rooms, neither were they engaged at any labor, but were 
turned into this yard, (with a few rooms opening into it,) like 
wolves in a den ; and a precious looking set of scoundrels 
they were. Of all the malignant passions of the human 
heart ever showed in countenances, here were representa- 
tions. — Most of these scamps were engaged in TplsLjing monte 
with an old pack of Mexican cards, on the brick floor. — In 
one room was a heavy pair of stocks, in which the culprits 
were confined, by their hands, feet, or heads — though none 
were thus confined at this time. — We soon saw enough 
of these, and rapping at the heavy door, the sentinel 
from within the passage opened it, and we passed out. As 
we did so, the chain-gang of those criminals, who had been 
at work on the streets, went in. Proceeding by the other 



STORES IN THE CITY. 223 

sentinel, we were in the open air again ; which, if it was 
windy and dusty, was far preferable to the stiller atmos- 
phere of that "den of thieves." 

We passed to the stores, of which there were more, having 
larger assortments of English, French, and American goods, 
than we had been aware of. The prices of goods, at this 
time, were not more than ten or fifteen per cent, over those 
of New Orleans. Every article of comfort, and most of lux- 
my, could here be found. — We purchased a few things of 
the Mexican clerks, and remounting, leisurely passed out to- 
wards camp, with the wind and clouds of dust at our 
backs. 

(Taking the climate, health, and situation, Matamoras 
would be a pleasant place in which to reside, but for this 
ceaseless wind, and ever driving clouds of sand and dust 
by day; and at night one's slumbers being disturbed by 
the barking, howling, and fighting of numberless dogs, of 
all sizes and tones of yelling, without, and the attacks of 
myriads of fleas within.) 

Upon returning to camp, this evening, we saw, as we en- 
tered the pass by the picket guard, a large crowd of men 
gathered in front of the camp, on the parade ground ; and 
the bursts of laughter that arose from them, showed that 
they were highly amused. On coming near, we saw two 
Mexican horsemen, who were going at a rapid rate over the 
area. — Riding up, we recognized our old friend, the Mexi- 
can of the rancho, and one of his peones, in an exciting 
race. The young Mexican was on a wild horse, that had 
been bought by one of our men : while the old man was on 
a trained horse of his own, and his lasso was on the other's 
neck, restraining him ; — but the peon not being able to man- 
age the steed, the old man took his place, giving to him the 
lasso. 

After mounting the horse, which was a difficult feat, the 
old chap plunged his spurs, with their long rowels, deep into 
his side. He sprung like a deer into the air, then reared on 
his hind feet : — the old man, not in the least disconcerted, 
laid the butt of his heavy whip on the animal's head, with 



224 BREAKING A WILD HORSE. 

blows so rapid and vigorous, that he was soon down ; but 
as his head came down, his heels went up, with quick re- 
peated kicks, and endeavors to throw his rider off; but these 
were with no success ; for the whip was turned to the rear 
with such vigor and effect, that these efforts were stopped ; 
and at the same time, the long spurs were pressed repeatedly 
into his side, till the blood flowed in streams. — The furious 
horse struck his fore feet upon the ground, and foamed at 
the mouth ; with rapid motions he bit at the old man's legs 
on either side of him, quick as thought ; but the rider was 
wide awake ; for, equally quick, came the loaded whip 
against his jaws on that side, accompanied with another 
plunge of the spur ; and as quick on the other side, as, in 
an instant he snapped around in that direction ; — this was re- 
peated until the animal was frantic with rage. He bled 
freely at the mouth, from the checks of the severe bit, and 
the bloody foam w^as throwm all around ; — the sweat ran in 
streams. — He stopped; his eyes flashed; the spurs were 
again drove in; — he leaped high, and burst away for a few 
yards, but was thrown on his haunches by the bit ; — recov- 
ering, he made three long plunges, and throwing himself 
on the ground, rolled over so quickly, that it was a won- 
der that the old man escaped being caught ; but he ^vas on 
his feet, and kicking the horse in the face, by the time he 
was over. The animal, while down, bit again at him, as he 
endeavored to get the lasso in his mouth, and succeeded in 
biting a piece from his thumb. 

It w^as now the old man's turn to be furious ; he jumped 
at the horse and stamped his head, and ground his eyes with 
his heels ; kicked and whipped him, regardless of the en- 
deavors of the exasperated animal to bite, and to kick him 
also ; — beating him so severely that he was soon on his feet 
again ; and then he began to tremble in every limb ; and 
shortly eyed his antagonist wdth an expression of great fear : 
— he was conquered. The young Mexican then mounted 
him, and in company with the old man on the other, rode 
rapidly over the whole ground ; finally taking him away to 
the rancho, to give him the second lesson when he was rest- 



SKILL IN USING THE LASSO. 225 

ed. — Their price for breaking this horse was but two dollars. 
(The lasso here mentioned is an indispensable accompani- 
ment to the mounted Mexican ; — it is a long hair or hide 
rope, with a slip noose at one extremity ; — the other made 
fast to the saddle ; — is often from sixty to eighty feet in 
length ; and the noose they can throw over the horn of an 
ox, or head of a man or horse, either when stationary, or 
when running or dodging, with never failing skill ; and not 
only so, but we often saw them throw it upon the feet of 
horses, when they were in rapid motion. How this was 
done, w^e could not understand ; but still, we saw it done 
again and again. To satisfy our curiosity, these ranch eros 
would catch a running horse by a fore foot or a hind one, as 
we wished, and never missed, although the animal might be 
going at full speed.) 

As the Mexicans left the camp, the buglers took their usual 
station on the parade ground, and their notes struck up clearly 
for the daily "dress parade." — This parade never was neglect- 
ed, while we remained at this encampment, for a single day ; 
and is, by the army regulations, enforced in observance, upon 
all regiments in camp or garrison; and it came so frequently, 
a description of it may not be amiss. 

The bugles sounded, and every one quickly left the ground 
and running to the lines of their companies, seized the car- 
bines and rifles. — The voices of the orderly sergeants could 
be heard over the camp, calling their men to fall into line. 
The officers belted on their swords, but proceeded at more 
leisure; while the sergeants called the rolls of each company; 
— then, counting them off in twos, formed them into double 
file by the command, " Foj^m ranks — march! " at which every 
No. 2 stepped behind his No. 1. — They were then faced to 
the right, and marched to the parade ground by the ser- 
geants, where the bugles were still playing. — Here they fell 
into line, in order of battle, with ordered arms ; the officers 
placed themselves four paces in front ; the lieutenant-colo- 
nel and major took their places six paces in front, all with 
their swords drawn ; the adjutant on the right, and the 
colonel in front of all about twenty-five or thirty paces. — 
The whole being so placed, the buglers from the right passed 
15 



aSiO DRESS PARADE. 

down in front, plajing, and came round in the rear to their 
places again and ceased ; the line was still. — The adjutant 
then, from the right, stepped two paces to the front, turned 
and commanded, "■Attention! Shoulder — arms! Prepare to 
open ranks! To the rear — Open order! March! (At this 
the rear rank stepped back six paces.) Right dress ! " Every 
one cast his eyes quickly along the line to the right, to place 
himself precisely in it, which he did in an instant ; and then, 
at the next command of the adjutant, " Front ! " turned his 
eyes in that direction, not moving a limb, perfectly erect. — 
The officers in front stood like statues, in the meanwhile, 
with their backs to the line. — When in this position, the adju- 
tant left the right, and advanced along the front to the centre ; 
suddenly turned and advanced directly out towards the 
colonel, and stopped about six or eight paces in front of him; 
faced about to the line again, and commanded, " Present — 
arms ! " The guns were brought to a present, and held in 
that position while the officers saluted with their swords. 
— The adjutant turned to the right about, saluted the colonel, 
and reported, "The parade is formed;" — then advanced, 
passed round him, and halted on his left, and in rear. — 
The colonel drew his sword ; touched his cap to the line, 
and ordered, " Shouldei — avms ! " and other commands, for a 
few moments, ending by ^^ Order — arms ! " and sheathed his 
sword. 

The adjutant then coming round the colonel, in front of him, 
half way between him and the line of officers, commanded, 
^^First sergeants to the front and centre^'' (at this, each orderl}"" 
sergeant stepped out from the ranks two paces, and faced to 
the centre)— "warc/i.' " They moved inward, where in a 
short space, the two inner ones met, facing each other, and 
halted in that position; the others came up behind them 
from each flank, and halted in the same manner : — "Front 
—face ! Report ! " Each one, beginning on the right, re- 
ported number present of each company, and number absent, 
cause, &c. The command was then given, "First sergeants — 
Outward face ! To your posts — march ! " They returned and 
quickly took their places in line. 

The adjutant, facing about, advanced towards the colo- 



DRESS PARADE. 227 

nel, halted, saluted, and made his report of numbers of each 
company, as reported by sergeants. — If any orders were to 
be read, he again faced the line, and commanded, ^^Atten- 
tion to orders ! " then read them ; and after finishing, an- 
nounced, " The parade is dismissed ; " but the line did not 
move. — The adjutant stepped forward and placed himself in 
the line of officers ; they returned their swords, faced in- 
wards, and closed upon him; he commanded, ^'^ Front — face! 
Forward — march ! " (all of them moved towards the colonel, 
to within six paces) ; ^'■Halt ! " All halted, and saluted the 
colonel by touching the cap ; the line, in the meantime, per- 
fectly steady in the two ranks, six paces apart. — As soon as 
the caps were touched, each orderly sergeant stepped in 
front of his company, and commanded, ^^ Attention — comjxiny! 
Carry — arms ! Close order — march ! " (the rear line, by six 
steps, closed upon the front, and halted) ; '■'■Right— face! Fo?-- 
ward — march ! Right — turn ! " and each moved off for its 
own line of tents, under the sergeants, leaving the officers to 
their conversation with the colonel. Arriving there, the ser- 
geants commanded, '■'Halt! Front — -face! Right — dress! 
Dismissed ! " and every man broke for his tent, put up his gun, 
and looked out for his supper. — And thus, word for word, 
and movement for movement, every day, at the same hour, 
was the dress parade ; — when well done, it presented a fine 
appearance. 

December lOth. An interval of a week, in the course of 
the journal, here takes place. — That week, like those which 
had gone before it, while here at camp Ringgold, had been 
entirely occupied by the field officers in drilling the men, 
and exercising the horses, to cavalry manoeuvres ; and in 
accustoming them to the noise of the charge. 

The health of the regiment had continued, in general, 
good ; but some few had been discharged and sent home on 
account of continued sickness ; while some others had been 
mustered in service in each company ; — some of these were 
old soldiers, who had, from time to time, been discharged 
from the regular army, by reason of the expiration of their 
term of service ; others had came with us as teamsters, &c., 
or had been living in Matamoras. One young man, by the 



228 ARRIVAL OF GENERAL PATTERSON. 

name of Hill, gave no account of himself. He joined Good- 
novv^'s company, and of him, hereafter, there will be occasion 
to speak. 

One man of the regiment, a Dutchman named Wiley, had 
deserted, and gone over to the enemy ; seduced, no doubt, 
by some of his countrymen who had been settled here for a 
long time. We thought for several days that he had been 
murdered by those small parties of the enemy, who were 
hanging round us ; but circumstances convinced us that he 
had deserted. Many murders and assassinations, in and 
around the city, had, in the meantime, been committed ; but 
none of our regiment fell by the knife of the assassin, though 
several had been attacked, and some wounded. 

Nothing had taken place in town of note, in this interval, 
save the arrival of Major General Patterson, from Camargo, 
and the parade and salutes of cannon consequent on such 
an event. The men of the regiment were much elated at 
his arrival, knowing it to be in preparation for a march, 
which all were anxious to make ; having become tired of 
camp. 

The days passed off well enough, for there was so much 
drilling and parade, that there remained no opportunity 
for idleness, to cause time to hang heavy. The evenings, 
however, went not so rapidly ; and to occupy them, the 
men soon fell, almost universally, to gambling, having now 
plenty of the means. After night, it was, throughout the 
camp, one large gambling establishment ; where every game 
of chance or skill that was known by any, was carried on. — 
The genius of gambling infected very many who had never 
done any of it before. It was surprising to see the num- 
ber of chuck-a-luck games. — Here, behind the rows of tents, 
w^ere three chuck-a-luck tables, near together ; — each one 
was the gate of a wagon body, supported by a flour barrel. 
The figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 were chalked out on this, or six 
cards were laid down of those numbers of spots. The 
dealer stood by it, a candle in his left hand and the dice 
box in his right, shaking and turning; while the crowd 
before him were pressing up : — " I'll bet half a dollar on the 
5," said one, aa he put down the half on the figure ; — rattle — 



GAMBLING SCENE IN CAMP. 229 

rattle — down came the box ; — was lifted ; — of the three dice, 
two of them lay with their "5" side up. — "Good," he ex- 
claimed, " Give me a dollar now, old hoss ! — I'm the boy to 
bet ; — three dollars on the six," as he threw down that sum 
on the figure ; — rattle — rattle — down, with a pounce, the box 
came again ; all were silent and looked with interest. As 
it was lifted, one six was up : — " Didn't I tell you so," he 
shouted; "shell me out three dollars, old partner; I only 
came to break your bank ; whoop ! " " Break away," said 
the dealer ; " what figure will you bet on now ? " "I 
don't know; shake the box." The dealer shook it, and 
striking it down, remained with his hand upon it, looking 
earnestly at the better in whose favor luck now ran ; while 
he, in the meantime, was leaning over the board, looking 
from the ace to the six, and back again, shaking the dollars 
in his hand, as he remained uncertain upon which to bet. — 
" I'll go — what's your limit ? " " ten dollars," said the dea- 
ler; — "six — dollars — on — the — ace," and carefully put the 
twelve half dollars on the " 1," and drew his breath slow 
and still ; while every one around leaned over, pressing one 
another, to see the dice, as the box was lifted. — " Two aces," 
shouted the whole with one voice, that brought many more 
around ; (for all were fond of excitement, and took part in 
their feelings with the better.) " Two aces," shouted he, as he 
jumped up in the air, and came down with a yell ; " I knew 
it. Now, old hoss, you will particularly oblige me by shell- 
ing out those twelve dollars." " Here they are," said the 
dealer, as, with a sober look, he counted out twenty-four 
halves, and passed them over to him. " Yes-sir-ee," said 
he, with a bend over, and a circular motion of the right fist 
toward them ; " now, old partner, shake that box again ; — 
there ; — shake it up lively ; — now down." The box was 
standing, the dice under; the crowd eagerly leaning over, 
many predicting that he would win again, and many that he 
would lose. — He was uncertain, and moved his hand with 
ten dollars in it over the board, over which he stooped with an 
anxious expression. — Slowly he put his hand on the " 5," and 
let the money fall on it in a pile ; and placing his arms akimbo, 
raised himself slowly up, with his eyes still on it. " You 



230 GAMBLING SCENE IN CAMP. 

bet there ? " said the dealer. " Yes." Every lip was drawn 
close, and every eye strained with excitement, as the dea- 
ler slowly lifted the box ; and '• three fives," with a simulta- 
neous yell, shouted every one. — " Three fives, by G~d," said 
the dealer ; " d-m-n the luck ! " — "' Three fives ! yaw ! yaw ! 
yaw ! " yelled the better ; " I'm the boy for betting." — "Three 
fives ! " shouted the crowd. — ^" Three fives," muttered the 
dealer; while the winner swore again that he was the 
boy. — " Now, old boss, I'll thank you to hand me over 
sixty of them shining half dollars there ; — they look so all- 
fernal pretty, that I'm a itching to get hold on 'em." — " Six- 
ty," said the dealer, " that's not right." — " Yes it is," said 
every one, in one voice ; — " three fives ; — ten dollars bet : — 
give him thirty." " Well now, I reckon I'll just quit," said 
he, as he raked up the half dollars, and, with a curious 
look at the dealer, shoveled them into his pocket and de- 
parted. 

But while some gained, others lost ; and the " banks " 
continued, in the long run, to win. There were many of 
these. At the left of camp were about a dozen; — on the 
parade ground could be seen twenty lights, each with its 
group around it; and towards the hospital tents were as 
many more ; while the rattling of boxes and confused 
sounds could be heard from each. — In the tents were 
groups seated crosslegged, at faro, " vingt-et-un,^'' {pron. 
vantoon), seven up, whist, poker, euchre, &c. — Every game 
was played here. By listening, you might hear a whir- 
ring sound, at intervals, from a tent with a green cloth at 
the mouth ; — on raising this, you saw a collection of ofii- 
cers and soldiers round a rolette table, betting freely. — 
Here, in the edge of a tent, sat a lieutenant, dealing vingt- 
et-un, on a blanket, to a number around him ; — money, in 
piles, was changing hands rapidly . — Some lost, this night, all 
that they had remaining of their wages. 

— Reports of contemplated attacks upon the city by Santa 
Anna and the other Mexican generals, were now rife in city 
and camp. The few traders who came in from the interior, 
reported large forces assembled at Tula, under General Val- 
encia ; at San Luis under General Santa Anna ; and a force, 



REPORTS OF CONTEMPLATED ATTACKS. 231 

as some of them said, of from eight to ten thousand men under 
Gen. Urrea, at Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas, 
two hundred and sixty miles south-west from Matamoras, 
to make a descent upon this place. These reports, so often 
repeated, gained general belief, and so much were the better 
part of the Mexican population impressed with a belief of 
their truth, that all who could, left for the interior, taking their 
effects, to avoid the scene of conflict ; having seen enough of 
the effects of that, in the May preceding, at the commence- 
ment of the war. — The effect upon the troops here was, to 
keep them continually prepared for any emergency that might 
happen. The guards in town had been increased ; — the ar- 
tillery was ready, at a moment's warning to act ; — the gar- 
risons of forts Brown and Paredes were kept on the alert ;— 
the third Ohio infantry, the commander of which, Colonel 
Curtis, as said before, was the military governor of the place, 
which were encamped on the north, and the third Indiana 
infantry, under Colonel Lane, who were on the east, were 
under arms, and in a state of continual readiness ; though at 
any moment, with or without alarm, it was hard to find these 
regiments in any other w^ay. 

(They were well drilled, and were fine in appearance. — 
One of them only afterward had the opportunity of meet- 
ing the enemy in the open field; — that was the third Indi- 
ana ; which, by subsequent changes on the Rio Grande, was 
sent up to Monterey, and then to Buena Vista ; where, 
in that long contested action, they held their ground against 
fearful odds, doing all that veteran soldiers could do. — 
The third Ohio infantry longed for the opportunity to distin- 
guish themselves, as the first regiment from the same state had 
at Monterey ; but by the arrangements, with the exception of 
a spirited but unsuccessful chase after General Urrea and his 
force, their lot always fell to the garrisoning of important 
places. All could not march out, for a sufficient force must 
be left to guard the places held. This duty of a regiment as 
garrisons for captured cities, is always more irksome and fa- 
tigueing than field service, though the exposure and hard- 
ship is not as great. There was not a regiment of volun- 
teers in the field, but that most heartily preferred the latter 



232 VIGILANCE OF THE REGIMENTS 

to the former, and heard their orders to remain at a town, 
while the other regiment marched on, with reluctance and 
regret. — The lot of the first Indiana regiment, under Colonel 
Drake, and the second Ohio, under Colonel Morgan, was the 
same, as well as those of other regiments.) 

At this date, these two regiments at Matamoras were all 
the time on the move. Our regiment of cavalry being the 
farthest out from the town, was, by the orders of Colonel 
Curtis to Colonel Thomas, ready for a movement at a mo- 
ment's warning, in case the town should be attacked ; — had 
its guards, especially the pickets strengthened, and kept 
vigilant; and sent out scouting parties continually. These 
now became heavy service upon ourselves and our horses. — 
The colonel, impressed with the importance of a vigilant 
picket, addressed in person, one day, the guard drawn up 
before him ; told them of the responsibility of their station ; 
of the importance that they should perform their duty strict- 
ly : — that during the day, no one, save an officer that they 
knew to belong to the encampment, should they allow to 
pass in or out without the countersign; but after night they 
were to know no one, not even himself, as an officer; not 
even, he remarked, if by moonlight they could see their 
faces, or if, by the sound, they knew their voices. — Without 
the countersign, they must not go in or out. 

The picket guard of any force is separate and indepen- 
dent of the camp guard, which surrounds the camp with its 
chain of sentinels ; — is composed of different numbers, ac- 
cording to the service required ; — is commonly stationed on 
roads or passways, from a half mile to one, two, three, or more 
miles from camp ; — is composed, often, both of cavalry and 
infantry ; — moves to the place appointed under its officers, 
and remains there for the day, or night, or both ; the men tak- 
ing turns during the night, in sleeping. They must not leave 
their posts, unless driven in by an advance of the enemy ; 
and in such a case, the firing from them immediately is heard 
by the camp guard of sentinels, who also fire, and rush into 
camp. This distant firing gives the sleeping infantry forces 
time to rise, seize their arms and fall into line ; to receive 
the enemy before they can reach the camp ; and to the cav- 



PICKET GUARDS. 233 

airy to saddle and mount their horses, to repel the charge. — 
The picket guard of our regiment, now, was stationed at the 
pass between the south-easterncorner of the lake and the river, 
at the rancho about half a mile from camp ; {see plate of Mat- 
anwras, page 194). — A part of the camp guard was stationed 
at the other pass, opposite. — The picket was strict ; but after 
a while, the officers, going in and out continually, to town 
and back, were always permitted to go through at the pass, 
without the countersign, day or night; though, as said before, 
this had been forbidden. Last night, however, three of them 
got caught upon this ; — it happened in this way : 

On yesterday. Colonel Thomas being very much en- 
gaged. Lieutenant-colonel Allison gave the countersign to 
the officer of the day, at guard mounting. — This was, for the 
day, the word " Tennessee." — The colonel went into town 
about eleven o'clock in the forenoon. — After the drills of 
the day, and the dress parade at evening, Lieutenant E. S. 
Smith, acting adjutant of the regiment, in company with an- 
other of the lieutenants, went also, to attend a Mexican 
^'fandango,^' or dance. — Clearing out in a hurry, they never 
thought, or cared about the countersign ; but full of the idea 
of anticipated pleasure, they dashed away, and being known 
by the guards, who stood on one side, with presented arms, they 
did not even check their horses, but continued on at a mod- 
erate canter, which, in a little while, brought them to town. 
Putting up their horses by the market house, at Wheeler's, 
(an American who kept a public house, and who will be re- 
membered by every soldier who has been at Matamoras), 
with instructions to have them ready about midnight, the 
two went to the house of the fandango ; and paying two dol- 
lars each for their admission tickets, were ushered into a 
large room, brilliantly lighted, and crowded with company ; 
mostly volunteer and regular officers, some Mexican gentle- 
men, and many senoritas ; whose conversation, in broken En- 
glish, was very interesting to our officers, to M'hom they ap- 
peared most charming. 

The music was good; the dancing rather slow and life- 
less ; — but their buoyancy of spirit made it all right ; and, 
in a flow of hilarity and mirth, the evening passed away, 



234 MEXICAN FANDANGO. 

and midnight approached. — Belting on their swords again, 
with many polite bows and flourishes, and expressions of 
farewell, of " adios, senorita^' to one, and " adios, senorita," to 
another, and so on to all, who lisped out in their finest tones, 
" adios, seizor capitan,''^ to each, (for, with them, every officer is 
a captain), they left the house, much pleased with the even- 
ing's entertainments, and with themselves. 

When they stepped into the street, all was still. A bright 
moonlight was shed down upon the city. Nothing could be 
heard, save the dogs, of every tone of howl? bark and yell, 
which were keeping up their nightly concert. They passed 
on through the market place, and by the numerous sentinels 
at the corners, without interruption, to Wheeler's ; — and be- 
ing joined by Colonel Thomas, mounted their horses, and set 
out for the camp. They interested the colonel with their re- 
lation of the fandango, and all being in high spirits, many 
jokes were passed as they rode along. 

On the picket guard, at the pass, that night, was, among 
others, one of company G, whose name was Betts. Now, 
Betts was a small man, with an intelligent countenance, 
keen eye, and pleasant appearance ; fond of a joke, and 
prided himself, at all times, in performing strictly the duties 
of a soldier, in every particular. — He had heard the colonel's 
commands to the guard, mentioned before ; and, as this party 
was approaching, he was walking the narrow pass, to and 
fro, with his loaded carbine at a support. — His comrades 
were at a little distance, soundly asleep around the guard 
fire ; for the night was cold. The officer of the guard had, 
against the line of his duty, left the picket, and gone into 
the tents of the camp guard, as said before, about half a 
mile. The white rows of tents shone in the moon-light be- 
yond ; but there were no lights there, for all were asleep. — 
Betts heard the sound of the horses' hoofs of the coming 
party, before he saw them. He stood erect. They came 
nearer, the two lieutenants in front. "Who comes there?" 
he challenged, in a quick, loud, and distinct voice, that brought 
them to a halt in an instant. " Friends," was the reply. 
*' Halt ! Advance, friends, and give the countersign !" " We 
have not got it. You know us : I am Lieutenant Smith, act- 



OFFICERS CAUGHT WITHOUT THE COUNTERSIGN. 235 

ing adjutant, and ." " Halt, and remain where you are," 

quickly replied the sentinel, with a very significant motion 
towards the lock of his carbine. The two were astonished ; 
while the colonel, behind, hearing this, was much amused, 
and drew his horse up, to see it out. — The adjutant com- 
menced to speak again, but the sentinel would hear nothing 
but the countersign ; and what that was, they knew not. — 
Colonel Thomas knew Betts by his voice, and, beside, 
could, in the moonlight, see him plainly ; and was really 
pleased to see his faithful performance of orders. — After a 
pause of some moments, in which he thought the lieutenants 
had been sufficiently troubled for not having the countersign, 
he advanced up to their side. " Mr. Betts," said he, " I am 
pleased to see you so prompt and decided in your discharge 
of duty ; and, I trust, the lesson will not be lost on these of- 
ficers ; for officers should set an example of military disci- 
pline to the soldiers. Let these gentlemen in; and depend 
upon it, we think much more of you for your firmness." — 
" Have you the countersign ?" said the sentinel to him, in re- 
ply to this. "The countersign — no ! — it is not necessary for 
me to have it. You know me ; I'm your colonel." " You 
can't go in," said the sentinel, as he drew himself up erect 
before them. — " Look at me," said the colonel, as he advan- 
ced out of the shade of some musquit bushes, on the side of 
the road, into the bright moonlight, that played and glisten- 
ed on his large epaulettes, his broad gold lace, and the gilt 
head and scabbard of his swoi'd. " Don't you know me 
now, Mr. Betts ?" — The sentinel coolly surveyed him and his 
horse. " J might know you in the day time, but now I do 
not know you: you cannot go in : remain where you are." 
" But we must go in," said all, as they advanced their horses 

up — " there will be no harm ." Quickly the sentinel 

threw up his carbine, with his thumb upon the lock, and his 
finger on the trigger, and called out — " Stop ! you are near 
enough !" — and stop they did ; — there was danger in proceed- 
ing. "Here is a pretty end to a frolic," said the adjutant, 
while the colonel looked stern with vexation. — They turned 
their horses' heads together, and held a consultation. " Where 
is the officer of the guard ?" said the colonel to the sentinel. 



236 THE SENTINEL ON PICKET. 

who now had turned to walking back and forth, across tne 
pass before them, and who showed no disposition for conver- 
sation. " Gone into the camp," was the reply. " Well, send 
after him, then." — " Should like to accommodate you, gentle- 
men, but can't leave my post." 

Here, then, was a predicament. — They dismounted and sat 
on the ground holding their horses, waiting for the officer of 
the guard. — The night was cool ; the wind was, and had 
been the whole day, from the north. — They tried to laugh, 
but they were too cold. — They plead earnestly with the sen- 
tinel, but it was of no avail ; for he, pacing his interval, 
would talk no more. — In about two hours, (which seemed ten 
to them,) the officer of the guard, who had been down at the 
camp guard fire, enjoying himself finely, thinking that it was 
time to relieve Betts, came up ; and was astonished to find 
the colonel, adjutant, and a lieutenant, sitting on the ground, 
in the cold, without even a blanket, shivering as though they 
had the ague. — He let them in at once; and they were glad 
to get to their tents, and cover themselves with blankets. — 
In the morning, when meeting Betts in camp, they compli- 
mented him highly ; and he brought to the colonel's recollec- 
tion his previous order, that " no one, not even himself, should 
pass at night without the countersign." 

These reports of attack were still kept up, and several 
armed scouts and spies from the enemy were seen, and some 
of them captured. — Murders were common, Americans usu- 
ally the victims, when caught exposed. — False alarms sev- 
eral times were given ; and as these were always attended 
with much excitement, one will be mentioned, as a sample 
— for all others were pretty much the same. 

A few nights since, after an unusually pleasant evening, 
in which the soldiers of the whole camp had remained up in 
the tents, or around the camp fires, much later than usual, 
they retired to rest ; and it being very warm, almost all di- 
vested themselves of their outside clothing. — In the tents 
they lay thickly, one so close to another that there was no 
room to step between them — their heads on their saddles, as 
usual, for pillows. — The lights had been all extinguished, and 
the fires burned down to dull beds of coals, save the fire at 



FALSE ALARM. 237 

the guard tents, and the one in the distance, at the picket. 
The wind, coming round to the north, blew cool, but not 
enough so to be felt, save by the sentinels that walked their 
rounds near the camp ; the picket beyond, and the mounted 
patrol, which was between the picket and the town. It was 
quite cool for these ; but the men so thickly stowed in their 
tents, were sleeping sweetly. Suddenly, from over the lake, 
behind the tall cane, was fired a full volley of musketry, fol- 
lowed by a few irregular guns. The report was distinct and 
clear, on the cool night air. — Hundreds, roused by it, lifted 
their heads from their saddle pillows, and held their breath 
and listened. — In a moment the bugles at the guard house 
sounded loudly the alarm ! — Now came a stirring scene : the 
mounted guard came dashing in ; — the picket formed itself 
into double line across the pass ; — the sentinels were ordered 
to their companies ; — half-dressed officers ran up and down 
the lines of tents, calling loudly to their men to turn out, for 
the enemy was at hand. Scores of half-clothed men rushed 
out of the tents to the coals of the fires, and lighted their 
candles, and in less than two minutes there were hundreds 
of lights gleaming throughout the camp, while men were 
hurrying on their clothes and arms. The second battalion 
was forming on foot ; while the first were throwing the sad- 
dles on their horses. Cartridges were rapidly distributed, 
and the voices of the officers were loudly heard, even above 
the strains of the bugles ; with the confused noise of many 
hunting for various articles of arms and horse equipage, that 
in the busy moment could not quickly be seen. — While so 
busy, every one for himself, expecting the enemy every in- 
stant to charge into the camp, no one seemed at a loss ; and 
in a few moments all noise was over, and the camp was still 
as before. — The long lines of horsemen, fully armed and 
ready, were drawn up on the parade ground ; the riflemen, 
at the left, rested on their rifles, and all listened for the ap- 
proach of the enemy. 

It was surprising to see with what quickness the whole 
had been done. — A few moments before, all had been sound- 
ly asleep in the silent camp ; then came the volley ; then im- 
jnediately the alarm ; then the sudden, noisy commotion of 



238 FALSE ALARM. 

the camp, which was lit almost instantaneously ; then the 
rattling of arms, shouting of officers, calling of hundreds of 
voices, and running of men in every direction, with lights 
back and forth, and hurrying on of arms and saddles, mount- 
ing, forming lines, &c., &c. To one unpractised, it would 
have appeared like complete confusion ; but here, in less 
than five minutes, the whole of the regiment were out in the 
darkness, in front of the camp, in order of battle — in lines 
of foot and horse, in perfect readiness and regularity, — not 
leaving in the tents even a "corporal's guard," — and here in 
these ranks all were silent as before the alarm; but how differ- 
ent their state ! — Then, their silence was that of sweet sleep; 
now, every man drew his breath stilly, and listened with com- 
pressed lips for the approach of the enemy, who had been so 
bold as to announce his coming by a volley, which had induced 
the belief, in the forming ranks, that the attacking force was 
large. — In a few moments, the silence was broken by an or- 
der for forty men, from the right, to proceed around the lake, 
as a reconnoitering party. — These galloped off", and were 
gone about an hour, when they returned — having been in 
the quarter whence the reports of firing came, and seen no 
enemy. 

During this time, we had all remained in the lines. — After 
they returned, we were dismissed; and, stripping our horses, 
divested ourselves of our arms, and again lay down to sleep ; 
while the guards were stationed at their posts. 

The volley that caused the alarm, we knew must have 
been fired by some of the scouting parties of the enemy, who, 
having found our position, came up behind the lake and did 
this to give us the trouble of forming to receive them, and 
then cleared rapidly away. — If such was their plan, they 
certainly succeeded in giving us considerable annoyance. 

Dcccnibcr I3th. The force in the city of Matamoras, and 
vicinity, had been increased by the arrival, from Camargo, 
of the third regiment Illinois infantry, under the command 
of Colonel Foreman, and the fourth regiment, of the same 
State, Colonel Baker; (though he, at the time, was not pres- 
ent, being in Washington city. The regiment was under 
the command of its lieutenant-colonel.) The whole force of 



REVIEW OF GENERAL PATTERSON'S DIVISION. 239 

the troops here, were drawn out on the 11th, on the plain 
west of the city, and reviewed by General Patterson. The 
inhabitants crowded outside the ramparts, to gaze upon the 
martial scene, and to hear the music from the bands. — The 
day was fine, the review good, and the subsequent manoBu- 
vres, — save that the first battalion of our regiment, on the 
extreme right of the column, which was about a mile in 
length, overdone the matter, in endeavoring to show out be- 
fore the general; and tied itself up, on a rise of land, in such 
a confused knot or mass, as that, no doubt, the general was 
fully convinced that the ofiicers thereof possessed great mili- 
tary skill, in being able to get them right again. At any rate 
he was, from the distance, perfectly satisfied with the dis- 
play, and sent his aid to command the battalion to its posi- 
tion in line again; — accompanying the order, it is said, by 
many complimentary expressions, such as " D-mn 'em, what 
in h-U are they trying to do !" &c. ; while the regiments of 
infantry, then formed over the plain in hollow squares, were 
exceedingly improved by their view of our extraordinary 
movements. — We felt very much relieved when we got back 
into line again, though all the original numbers were chang- 
ed and lost. — The lieutenant-colonel was exceedingly morti- 
fied, for he had much military pride, and beside that, knew 
that his battalion could, and did, every day, perform its evo- 
lutions and manoeuvres with an accuracy and precision of 
movement, that could not be excelled by any cavalry in the 
service ; and now, on this, its first appearance before the 
general, to show to such a disadvantage, by a confusion for 
which he was unable to account, was too much for his phi- 
losophy. — The second battalion did well throughout the whole 
review and parade. This ended about three P. M*, when 
each of the regiments marched off to their separate encamp- 
ments. 

On this day, the 13th, General Patterson issued orders to 
the colonels of the third and fourth regiments of Illinois 
infantry, and of our regiment of cavalry, to prepare for the 
march; directing the third Ohio regiment to remain as the 
garrison of Matamoras ; the third Indiana, Colonel Lane, 
were ordered to Camargo. — Our three regiments, of the divi- 



"240 CONTEMPLATED MOVEMENTS. 

sion to march, amounted in number to nearly two thousand 
men, of which our own regiment composed nearly one-half. 
The march upon which we were ordered now, was against 
Victoria, which was, as has been said before, two hundred 
and sixty miles towards the south-west. — It was part of a 
grand movement which had been planned by General Taylor, 
before our arrival ; and which was referred to in the dispatch 
received by Colonel Thomas from him, back at Victoria, in 
Texas, and mentioned in the diary of October 15th, as order- 
ing the Kentucky cavalry to Camargo, and ourselves to Mat- 
amoras. — The true object of this expedition was to extend 
the army in a strong line of occupation, from Parras, on the 
north-west, through Saltillo, Monterey and Victoria, to Tam- 
pico, on the southeast, — having General Wool, with his divi- 
sion of volunteer forces, on the extreme right, or north-west, 
at Parras ; General Worth, with twelve hundred regulars^ 
and eight pieces of artillery, at Saltillo ; General Butler at 
Monterey, with two companies of artillery and a battalion 
of regular infantry, — having also the forces in the valley of 
the Rio Grande under his command. These to be left, were 
nine regiments : the first, second, and third Indiana ; the first, 
second, and third Ohio ; the first and second Kentucky, and 
the first Kentucky cavalry. — General Patterson, with his di- 
vision of first and second Tennessee, third and fourth Illinois, 
the Mississippi, the Alabama and Georgia regiments, were 
to occupy the country from Victoria to Tampico ; while the 
head-quarters of the army were to be removed to the latter 
place.* 

After leaving the nine regiments mentioned, under General 
Butler, in the valley of the Rio Grande, at Matamoras, Ca- 
margo end Monterey, the three divisions were to move to the 
southward, taking possession of the country as they passed. 
One, commanded in person by General Taylor, departing from 
Monterey, joining the other, under General Quitman, from 
Camargo, at Monte Morelos ; and the third, our own, under 
General Patterson, from Matamoras. — These divisions were 
to meet and concentrate at Victoria. — The course for Tay- 

• See General Taylor's dispatch, December Sth, 1846. 



CONTEMPLATED MOVEMENTS. 241 

lor's division was to the south-east ; for Quitman's, nearly 
due south, as far as Monte Morales, then south-east; and 
for ours, as said before, nearly south-west. 

Now, reader, let us leave these three divisions preparing 
for this march upon Victoria, and take a retrospective view 
of the operations of the war elsewhere carried on, from the 
time of the occupation of Matamoras, after the battles of 
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, up to this time — near the 
close of the year 1846, — which time had been productive of 
so many stirring events ; leaving out, however, the mention 
of the battles and capture of the city of Monterey, which 
have already been fully described. 

The next chapter, VII, will contain the accounts of these 
operations elsewhere transacted. At the commencement of 
Chapter VIII, we will resume the narrative, at the point here 
left, and take up the march of the division under General 
Patterson for Victoria, — giving its details from day to day, 
as heretofore we have done, for the regiment alone, in its 
march from Tennessee to this city of Matamoras ; at which 
place now, for the time, we leave it. 



10 



CHAPTER VII. 

It was now near the close of the j^ear 1846. — The war 
between the United States and Mexico had been carried on 
nearly seven months. Let us review the actions of that 
short space of time. — In June previous, as said before, three 
separate armies or divisions had, by the government of 
the United States, been ordered to operate against Mex- 
ico. The southern, under General Taylor, against the 
states situated to the south of the Rio Grande ; the cen- 
tral division, under General Wool, to move from San An- 
tonio, in western Texas, west, against the states of Chihu- 
ahua and Durango ; and the northern division, under Gen- 
eral Kearny, from the western part of Missouri, against the 
states of New Mexico, and then against California, on the 
Pacific. 

Beside these, a strong force of ships of war, under Com- 
modore Conner, blockaded all the ports of Mexico and the 
gulf, and from time to time, attacked her seaports on her 
eastern coast ; — while on the Pacific, another strong fleet, 
under Commodore Sloat, blockaded her western ports, along 
her extensive coast, and took possession of the towns in 
Upper California. 

The army of General Taylor had not performed any action 
of moment since the capture of Monterey, on the 25th of 
September. The armistice of eight weeks there agreed upon 
by the generals, Taylor and Ampudia, having been abroga- 
ted by the government of the United States, General Taylor 
had, on the 5th of November, dispatched a flag of truce to 
Santa Anna, then commanding the Mexican army, inform- 
ing him of the renewal of hostilities ; and on the 121a of 

( 242) 



CENTRAL ARMY UNDER GENERAL WOOL. 24S 

the same month, General Worth's division, followed by 
General Taylor, marched for Saltillo, the capital of the state 
of Coahuila. — This is a beautiful city, situated west from 
Monterey, and sixty-five miles distant ; — contains about 
twelve thousand inhabitants. — The rear guard of the Mexi- 
can army under Ampudia had just retired from the place, as 
the American forces were marching upon it. No resistance 
was offered ; — the governor retired, after protesting against 
the occupation of the country, and the city was taken posses- 
sion of by the division. 

Being now in possession of the capitals of Nueva Leon 
and Coahuila, as w^ell as of the whole valley of the Rio 
Grande, General Taylor's next movement w^as to be against 
Victoria, as before mentioned ; — beyond that, farther to 
the southward, was the strong and important city of 
San Luis Potosi, at which place was collected the largest 
army that Mexico had, so far in the contest, brought into the 
field. 

Let us turn to the central division under General Wool. — ■ 
This army was composed of the following troops : 

1st regiment Arkansas cavalry, Colonel Yell. 

1st "^ Illinois infantry, "••••Hardin. 

2d '* " " ''••••BisseU. 

Battalion infantry ; three companies of 
U. S. 6th regiment, and one of Ky. 
volunteers. Captain Williams, Major Bonneville. 

One company, (B), 4th artillery, with a 

battery of eight brass pieces, Capt. Washington. 

One company pioneers, " Lee. 

One company Texas volunteers, " Leefield. 

Battalion, four companies of 1st and 2d 

regular dragoons, Colonel Harney. 

— in all numbering about 3,000 men. 

The stores for this number, preparatory to a long march, 
had all been landed at Port Lavacca, (mentioned on page 
138), and transported by teams to San Antonio, one hundred 
and fifty miles. The long delay thus caused, pi evented the 
commencement of the march until September 26th, when 
the advance moved on. This advance under Colonel 



•244 movp:ments of general wool's army. 

Harney consisted of one thousand two hundred and forty 
men, viz : 

Six companies Arkansas cavah-y, 421 men. 

Two '• 1st Illinois infantry, 156 " 

Two " 2d " " 135 " 

Three companies U. S. infantry, and one, Capt. 

Williams', Kentucky, 266 " 

One company pioneers, 30 " 

Two " U. S. dragoons, 124 « 

One " Artillery, Captain Washington, 

with eight pieces, 99 " 

Three days after, on September 29th, General Wool left 
the same place with the second detachment ; — this was under 
the command of Colonel Hardin, of 1st Illinois, and num- 
bered five hundred and eighty men, viz : eight companies 1st 
Illinois, and two companies U. S. dragoons. — The third de- 
tachment proceeded, under Colonel Bissell, of 2d Illinois, in 
a few days after the second ; — it consisted of seven compa- 
nies of the 2d Illinois regiment, infantry ; two companies 
Arkansas regiment, cavalry, and one company Texas volun- 
teers, infantry : whole force seven hundred and twenty men. 
In a short time after, the fourth detachment, \yith. a heavy 
train of wagons, brought up the rear. This was under the 
command of Major Solon Borland, and consisted of about 
two hundred and fifty men, viz : two companies Arkansas 
cavalry ; one company 2d Illinois infantry, beside many men 
who had been sick, belonging to other detachments. 

The distance to Presidio, on the Rio Grande, was one 
hundred and fifty-seven miles. Here, all the army crossed 
the river in sectional boats ; (these had been constructed at 
San Antonio, and hauled on wagons, each in three sections 
or pieces, that fitted to one another, making a large boat). — 
This whole central division under General Wool was com- 
posed of as fine troops as any in the army ; were well equip- 
ped, and provided with full supplies of provision and ammu- 
nition for the long route before them. 

As was the case with all the divisions of the army, no 
sooner had they commenced their march, than rumors, in 
numbers, came back to them of the enemy in large force be- 



•MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL WOOL'S ARMY. 245- 

fore them. — The most important of these rumors, and appa- 
rently the best founded, was that a Mexican force of seven, 
thousand men were stationed for the defence of the city of 
Monclavo. This was universally believed, and was a mat- 
ter of congratulation to the army, that they should so soon 
have a chance at the enemy ; and in buoyant spirits, they 
moved on from the Rio Grande towards that city, the pas- 
sage through which was necessary ; for on the left, the di- 
rect course to Chihuahua, the rugged mountains of Sierra 
Gordo rose, forbidding a passage across them,* and the army 
kept along its base, pursuing a course still more to the 
southward than before, until after a march of one month, 
they arrived at the city of Monclova on the 29th of October. 
Here, to the disappointment of the army, they met no oppos- 
ing force. The prefect, or military commander of the city, 
contented himself with issuing a formal protest against the 
occupation of the country by the United States' forces. 

At this city, the army of General Wool remained about a 
month ; in which time he sent a dispatch to General Taylor, 
informing him of the impracticability of the route on which 
he had been ordered toward Chihuahua, and asking new- 
orders from him. General Taylor responded by ordering the 
column to the south-west, about one hundred and fifty miles, 
to the city of Parras, situated one hundred miles west of 
Saltillo, and near two hundred from Monterey; thus plac- 
ing the army of General Wool on the extreme right of 
the extended line of occupation, across the country, from 
the coast to the interior, which he was about to take up. 
— This order of General Taylor was afterwards in the 
highest degree serviceable to him, in repelling the attacks 
of Santa Anna's powerful army; and also was afterwards 
hailed by the troops of the central army, as the means of 
diverting them from a campaign over the barren mountains 
of Chihuahua, and leading them to the glorious field of 
Buena Vista. 

In obedience to these orders, General Wool marched his 
army to the city of Parras, and encamped near it, the pre- 

* See the report of Captain Hughes, Topographical Engineers, Feb. 14, 1847. 



246 MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL WOOL'S ARMY. 

feet of the city meeting him at the hacienda of Don Manuel 
Ibarra, five miles from the city, and surrendering it to him. — 
Here the general and his staff were entertained by the hos- 
pitable owner of the hacienda, (who spoke English fluently, 
having been educated at Bardstown, Kentucky), and several 
of his friends, and among these, Dr. Woodworth, an Ameri- 
can, who had resided at the city of Parras a number of 
years.* 

The army remained encamped near Parras about a fort- 
night, when other orders were received by General Wool 
from General Taylor, apprising him of the reported advance 
of General Santa Anna, with a powerful army, and direct- 
ing him to march to Saltillo as soon as possible, and form a 
junction with the forces then there under General Worth. — 
Upon the receipt of this order. General Wool immediately 
broke up his camp at Parras, and proceeded directly to Sal- 
tillo, where he arrived about the 20th of December. Here 
he remained ; and his gallant little army, in two months af- 
terward, had the opportunity of meeting the enemy, without 
further marching, at the battle of Buena Vista, of which we 
will speak in its order of time. 

Leaving him and his command encamped at the city of 
Saltillo, at this period, — the close of the year 1846, — we will 
turn our attention to the northern division of the army, un- 
der General Kearney ; which was to proceed against New 
Mexico, from Fort Leavenworth, in Missouri, at the same 
time that General Taylor was collecting his force on the Rio 
Grande, and General Wool mustering his battalions, at San 
Antonio ; — each army having its separate movement before 

* This last named gentleman, now resident in Cincinnati, was obliged, by the 
Mexican authorities, to leave Parras, at twenty-four hours' notice, after the departure 
of General Wool, on account of his friendly feelings and personal services to that 
officer. — The author here takes the opportunity to acknowledge himself much in- 
debted to Dr. Woodworth, for many items of explanation with regard to Mexican 
manners and customs, religious ceremonies, character, &c.; — he thus being able to 
present the reader an account of these and all other subjects relating to the Mexicans, 
which are introduced into this work, as seen by himself in the year's campaign, and 
corroborated by the revisal of a gentleman of ability and education, to whom every 
detail of Mexican character, customs and language is perfectly familiar, from a con- 
tinual residence of several years among them ; entirely separated, for that time, from 
other people, customs or speech. 



MARCH OF GENERAL KEARNEY. 247 

it. — This northern army commenced the movement of its ad- 
vance with but little delay — being, but between five and six 
weeks from the time that hostilities had been commenced, by 
the bombardment of Fort Brown and the battles of the Sth and 
9th of May, on the Rio Grande ; a memorable instance, this, of 
the facility and quickness with which armies may be raised 
and equipped, and be placed upon the march, in our country 
— the United States. The division of the army under Colo- 
nel (afterwards General) Kearney, comprised in all its force, 
three thousand three hundred men — consisting of the first 
regiment Missouri cavalry, under Colonel Doniphan ; second 
regiment do.. Col. Price, a battalion of artillery, Major Clark, 
and a battalion of Mormon infantry, under Lieutenant- 
colonel Cook ; two companies Missouri infantry, and four 
companies of regular dragoons, — accompanied by a large 
train of supply wagons, and a still larger body of w^agons of 
traders, going out under the protection of the division. 

The forces proceeded in separate detachments over the vast 
prairie, on account of the great number of animals to be suppli- 
ed with grass, from Fort Leavenworth, the place of rendezvous, 
in the western part of the State of Missouri, towards Santa 
Fe, the capital of the State of New Mexico, situate near the 
head of the Rio Grande, and which had been, for many years, 
the centre point of an extensive trade to Independence and 
St. Louis, in the United States ; to Pueblo de los Angelos, and 
all the other towns on the Pacific coast to the west; to all 
the large Indian tribes, situated in every direction from it ; 
and also with the States of Sonora, Chihuahua, (pron. Che- 
waw-u-aiv,) and Durango, to the south and south-west. 

The course from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe is about 
west-south-west, the distance near a thousand miles, nearly 
the whole of which is over boundless prairies, upon which are 
numerous herds of deer, antelope, and buffalo.' — The road 
between the two points was an old wagon way, and much 
traveled on, and good; — the watering places definitely 
known. — Two roads, leading to the same point, were travel- 
ed for the sake of grass; — one the old caravan route, the oth- 
er, more to the north, by Bent's fort, on the Arkansas. — Gen- 
eral Kearney having sent forward several trains with provi 



248 CAPTURE OF SANTA FE. 

sions, to be overtaken, set forward with a force of one thou- 
sand six hundred and forty-seven men, including Colonel 
Doniphan's regiment, a battalion of artillery, with sixteen 
pieces of cannon, and a party of dragoons, on the 22d of 
June, taking the northern road, across the prairies, which led 
by Bent's fort ; leaving the other detachments to follow on 
as soon as practicable. — The march to Santa Fe was per- 
formed in fifty days, with no circumstance of note occurring 
on the route. The detachment not coming up with the wa- 
gon train of provisions, which had been sent ahead, until the 
latter part of the march, the troops were reduced for many 
days to half-rations of provisions ; on overtakir , that, they 
had plenty again. 

The force neared San Miguel on Sunday, August 16th, 
and took possession of the place in the name of the Uni- 
ted States, obliging the alcalde to take an oath of alle- 
giance and fidelity to his new government. — The army 
then moved onward the following day, and encamped at Pe- 
cos, twenty-nine miles from the capital. Near here, in a 
mountain gorge, through which the road passes, an engage- 
ment was expected with the Mexican army of four thousand 
strong, under the command of Don Manuel Armijo, the gov- 
ernor of the province ; but on entering the pass the next 
morning, Tuesday, August 18th, they found it deserted, but 
with the marks of recent encampment at the head of it. — 
The tracks of the artillery wheels being plainly seen, were 
followed ; and one piece, that the retreating enemy had not 
been able to carry off, was found near the place spiked. — It 
was one of the pieces belonging to the unfortunate Texas 
Santa Fe expedition. — From this " canon''' or gorge, the road 
to the city was over steep and rocky hills, the passage of 
which delayed the artillery ; while the general, with the dra- 
goons and cavalry, moved on until near the city, and halted 
two hours, on a hill overlooking it, until the artillery came up 
and took post upon it. — Finding that the governor and forces 
had retreated from the city, and that no resistance would be 
offered, the general, with the cavalry and dragoons, entered 
the city, with drawn sabres, and drew up in the plaza, while 
the American flag was immediately hoisted on the palace of 



GENERAL KEARNEY'S SPEECH. 249 

the governor, and a salute was fired by the artillery on the 
hill. — The general and escort were received by the civil 
authorities, and conducted into the palace. — The cavalry 
and dragoons paraded through many of the streets and 
squares. — Their appearance in each was greeted by the 
surly looks of the men, who, in their wide breeches and large 
sombreros, turned out to view them ; and by the shrieks and 
screams of the frightened women. 

Their fears, however, were allayed on the following day, 
when General Kearney, turning orator, made them a speech — 
many assembling to hear him. — In this speech they were dis- 
tinctly infrined, that the country of New Mexico was held as 
part of the United States. — He promised to all peaceable citi- 
zens protection against their enemies, — especially against the 
tribes of Indians, who had often visited their settlements, situ- 
ated up and down the Rio Grande, and stolen horses and cattle, 
and killed the inhabitants. — (The greatest injuries had been 
committed by the " Navajos," whose district of country lay di- 
rectly west from the province.) — He promised the people that 
their depredations would be stopped, &c. He informed them 
that they were free from the command of their late governor^ 
Don Manuel Armijo; and that, hereafter, they would only 
bear allegiance to the United States, &c. — To all this the 
people responded enthusiastically. — He appointed a governor, 
Juan Baptiste Vigil, and administered to him the oath of al- 
legiance to the United States, then the same oath to the 
alcaldes, and to each member of the ayuntamicnto. He then 
finished his speech, and proceedings in the matter, by calling 
on all who had friends or relatives who had left the city, on 
the approach of the American forces, to avoid the reception 
of insults and injuries, to induce all such to come back ; as- 
suring them, as from him, of protection and kindness. — This 
had a good effect, and the most returned. — The Mexican 
army continued its retreat down the Rio Grande, towards 
Chihuahua, Armijo being with it. 

After these events, General Kearney's first endeavor was 
to perform his promise M^th regard to the Indians. Accord- 
ingly, runners were sent out to the powerful and warlike 
tribe of Navajos, inviting the chiefs of that tribe, and those 



250 GEN. KEARNEY'S DEPARTURE FOR CALIFORNIA. 

of the smaller tribe of Pueblos, near, to hold a grand coun- 
cil, and conclude a treaty of peace. — The place of meeting 
was set by these chiefs at the Bear Spring, near Red lake, in 
the mountainous country of the Indians, two hundred and 
fifty miles south-west of Santa Fe. 

Upon the arrival of Colonel Price's regiment, the second 
Missouri, and the battalion of Mormon infantry, under Lieu- 
tenant Smith, at Santa Fe, General Kearney, having ap- 
pointed Mr. Charles Bent governor of the province, and 
everything being quiet, set out, with one hundred dragoons 
and two mountain howitzers, together with some men of the 
topographical engineers, for California, by the route across 
the mountains, down the Gila river to the Gulf of California; 
thence across the peninsula, to the waters of the Pacific 
ocean ; thence up the coast to Monterey, the capital : (then, as 
well as the other principal towns on the coast, in the hands of 
the Americans, having been captured by thePacific fleet, under 
Com. Sloat, directly after the reception of the news of the 
battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma). — Before Gen- 
eral Kearney set out on this long route of twelve hundred 
miles, he made every arrangement for the tranquillity of the 
province of New Mexico, and for the protection of the people 
from the attacks of the Indians, — He directed the Mormon 
battalion, under Colonel Cook, to follow him to California. — 
He left the second Missouri regiment, under Colonel Price, 
with two hundred regular dragoons, under Captain Burg win, 
and Fischer's and Weightman's companies of St. Louis light 
artillery, as the garrison for New Mexico. (Weightman's 
company was afterward detached and sent to the aid of Co- 
lonel Doniphan, of the first regiment; and Lieutenant-colonel 
Mitchell, of the second, with near a hundred men, accompanied 
it, reducing the force under Colonel Price considerably ; but 
they nobly held their ground, and fought two battles, which will 
be noticed in their proper order.) — He ordered Col. Doniphan, 
with his regiment, to attend to the council and treaty to take 
place with the Navajos ; and after arranging that, to march 
the regiment to the southward, and report himself to General 
Wool, at the city of Chihuahua. — (General Wool, as has been 
related, at this time was collecting, at San Antonio, in west- 



MARCH OF COLONEL DONIPHAN'S REGIMENT. 251 

ern Texas, an army of over three thousand men, to proceed 
against the States of Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Durango ; 
and, it was calculated by General Kearney, that he would be 
in possession of those States, by the time that Colonel Doni- 
phan, after the arduous service allotted him, would be able 
to reach there.) 

In the intervening time between the capture of the city 
and his departure, the general, aided by Colonel Doniphan 
and Willard P. Hall, a private, (since, member of Congress 
from Missouri,) had framed and put into force a code of laws, 
more according to the spirit of the system of government 
under which the territory was in future to remain. — Having 
thus settled the aflairs of the government, he set out on his 
route. — Leaving him on this long march, let us follow the first 
regiment, under Doniphan, on their eventful and arduous 
service.* 

Soon after the general's departure. Colonel Doniphan set 
about the fulfillment of his order. — He dispatched the second 
battalion of his regiment, under Major Gilpin, of little over 
two hundred men, with some Pueblo Indians and friendly 
Mexicans, to the Indian country, on the first of October. 

A powerful tribe of Indians, the Utahs, live to the north 
and north-west of the country occupied by the Navajos — 
These roam over a vast tract of country extending from the 
thirty-sixth to the forty-second degree of north latitude, and 
from the one hundred and eighth to the one hundred and 
thirteenth degree of west longitude; — an immense section, 
bounded on the east by the mountains of New Mexico ; on 
the south and east by the Colorado, and the country of the 
Navajos ; on the west by the Wawsatch mountains, and the 
Great Salt Lake, (an immense inland sea), and its laige 
fresh water tributary, the Utah lake. These Utah Indians 
are, in general, well mounted, and well armed with rifles, in 
the use of which they are expert ; are powerful, and feared 
by the adjoining tribes ; — many parts of their extensive do- 
main being highly fertile, and watered by the Colorado, 
Grand, Green, Utah, and Sevier rivers, and their numerous 

* For the particulars of the march, throughout, of Doniphan's .egiment, the author 
is indebted to Mr. James M. Johnson, of company F, of that regiment. 



252 EXPEDITION INTO THE NAVAJO COUNTRY. 

branches, with many lakes, they have no difficulty in rais- 
ing immense droves of horses, mules, sheep, and cattle — in 
which their wealth consists. Although never having much 
molested the American traders, who have from time to time 
visited them, they have made extensive depredations on the 
Mexican population of New Mexico, and a regular busi- 
ness, yearly, of intercepting the great caravan Mdiich passes 
from the coast of California to Santa Fe, exacting a heavy 
tribute from them.* 

As it was deemed advisable to conclude a treaty with these 
Utahs, Major Gilpin was ordered there. He induced the 
head men, of the first tribe met, to return to Santa Fe ; here 
they made a treaty with Doniphan. To obtain the agree- 
ment of the other Utahs to this, Gilpin was ordered into their 
country — west, then to march south-east, to Bear Spring, to 
the council of the Navajos. 

The battalion, after having taken a supply of the coarse 
flour of the country, on pack mules, together with other indis- 
pensable articles, leaving behind them all tents and camp 
equipage, commenced their march by the old Spanish trail, or 
caravan road, to California. Some time after these had start- 
ed. Lieutenant-colonel Jackson, with another detachment of 
one hundred and twenty men, commenced the march, by an- 
other route, to the same place ; Captain Ried, with another 
of thirty men ; and, finally, as the time of council drew 
near. Colonel Doniphan, with an escort of ten men, took a 
direct course, across the mountains, for the same place. — All 
these, in their routes, suffered much from want of water, and 
by exposure, from the length of their march ; the second 
battalion enduring the more. — These pursued their march 
along the old Spanish trail about five days, on a course to 
the north of west, until they arrived at the St. Juan river, 
which runs nearly a west course ; — along the bank of this 
they passed, until they arrived at its junction with the Col- 
orado, about three hundred miles from Santa Fe. — The course 
of the latter river was about south-west. 

They were now fairly into the country of the Utahs, and. 

* See Fremont's narrative of exploration. 



EXPEDITION INTO THE NAVAJO COUNTRY. 253 

made great endeavors to procure a council with them, but 
tmavailingly ; only few being seen at a time, and these were 
reserved and suspicious ; though they would trade horses, 
mules, cattle, sheep, dressed skins for clothing, &c., vrith the 
men, in return for beads, ribbons, tobacco, sheet iron arrow 
heads, (of which many of the men, having long been among 
the Indians as traders, had brought numbers), blankets, 
butcher knives, &c. The clothing of the men having now 
nearly worn out, and there being no opportunity of obtain- 
ing more, they bought many of these skins, and dressed 
themselves with them, true Indian fashion. 

The battalion proceeded down the Colorado about one 
hundred miles, finding, along, good pasture, fine buffalo grass, 
every night. (That grass appears to be the same that, in 
Texas, is called the musquit, and which has been described 
in the course of this work). 

Despairing of being able to come upon any understanding 
with the Utahs, the battalion left the Colorado, and proceeded 
in a south-eastvvardly direction, across the mountains, for 
five days ; traveling about one hundred and fifty miles, when 
they reached the Gila river. — This march was extremely la- 
borious, being up and down the descents of the mountains, 
through narrow defiles, and along dangerous precipices, 
often over large tracts of loose and broken rock, without a 
road or trail ; and, in several places, having long routes from 
water to water, besides, often, no grass for the animals. — It 
was accomplished, however, without murmuring. 

Arrived at the Gila, the battalion found good water and 
fine grass. — The next ten days' march was up this river, 
a course, at first, about east, then nearly north-east. — This 
country was fine, well watered ; mountainous, but with beau- 
tiful valleys, and with abundance of game. — This ten days 
brought them to the Bear spring, about seven miles from 
Red lake, in a fine section of country, furnishing abundance 
of water. 

Here they found many of the Navajos assembling. — The 
battalion was soon joined by the detachments of Lieutenant- 
colonel Jackson, Colonel Doniphan, and Captain Ried. — The 
Indians arrived in separate bands, each one accompanied 



254 SCENES AT THE COUNCIL WITH THE NAVAJOS. 

by a large herd of horses, mules, cattle and sheep, which 

w^ere driven along by the squaws, to the encampment. 

These were partly for their own subsistence during the time 
of the council, and partly to sell to the regiment. — All of the 
bands being perfectly frank with the new comers, a free in- 
tercourse was at once commenced. — The lodges of the Indi- 
ans were pitched around, in no regular order, and the women 
immediately began their labors, in cooking, &c., while 
the men sauntered around, or endeavored to trade with the 
troop.-? of the regiment their cattle or horses, for trinkets, 
arrow heads, ribbons, &c., of which the men yet had a pretty 
good supply. 

Money was of no use among them ; — many trades were 
made, — a horse or two, or three cows, or else a half a dozen 
fine sheep, could be procured for a common blanket ; a dozen 
or two arrow heads brought the same. — Deer skins, dressed 
for clothing, they exchanged in numbers, for a little ribbon, 
of red, or green, or yellow ; while anything they had, they 
would trade for tobacco. Knives, too, were in great demand 
by the men, and beads by the women. — A few of these arti- 
cles soon procured from the Indians plenty of horses to sup- 
ply the places of those that had given out, and any number 
of cattle or sheep for provision ; and, as they still had plenty 
of the coarse flour which, on pack mules, had been brought 
the long route from Santa Fe, they immediately began to 
live well again. — The Indians had brought much more stock 
than was wanted. 

Stock is the great item of their wealth. — Unlike many 
other tribes, who live upon the precarious supply of game, 
sometimes in abundance, and then again in suffering, these 
take much pains to have their flocks and herds continually 
around them. The fine spacious valleys of their country 
afford most excellent pasturage, and in these they roam. — 
The horses are good; better than those farther south; — 
their cattle are large, fat and sleek ; and their sheep are 
extremely large, and bear very heavy fleeces. — From these 
the Navajo women make their blankets; which are supe- 
rior, for a covering against the rain, to all others, — being 
very thick and heavy; closely knit b}'^ hand. — These w^omen, 



DRESS OF NAVAJO CHIEFS AND WARRIORS. 255- 

are all industrious ; — neither are the men so indolent as 
those of many other tribes ; and both are, in general, quite 
neat in their persons, dress, and lodges. 

Their common dress is composed of articles of wool wo- 
ven by the women, or skins prepared by them. — The chiefs 
and warriors wear a dressed deer skin hunting shirt, with 
fringes along the seams of the arm ; — this shirt had one or 
more capes of the same material, which were handsomely 
worked in figures of various colors, in beads and porcupine 
quills, by the women of their households. — They also wear- 
breeches of the same material, fitting tight below the knees, 
so as not to impede their motion. The outside seams of 
these, like those of the arms, were ornamented with a 
fringe, worked with beads ; — this fringe was from four to six 
inches in length, while that on the arm was but about three. 
— Their heads were shaved, save the long scalp locks on the 
crown, which were braided, and fell down on the shoulders. — 
Moccasins, worked like the capes, in beads and quills, com- 
pleted the dress. 

They were generally armed with stout bows, wrapped 
with sinews of animals ; and each one, on his right side,, 
bore a quiver of skin, with the fur on, filled with iron point- 
ed, barbed and feathered arrows. — These bows were from 
four to six feet in length ; the arrows about two feet and a 
half. — These were powerful weapons, and used by them 
with great skill and dexterity ; — they shot them entirely 
through the body of oxen. — Some few had rifles, with the 
use of which they were well acquainted. 

In addition to the dress mentioned, all wore bracelets of 
brass upon their wrists, to protect this part from the string, 
of the bow, when shooting an arrow. — The chiefs were dis- 
tinguished by a crown or wreath of feathers, of various 
bright colors, on their heads ; and they also wore large cres- 
cent shaped silver ear-rings. — The breeches of these, to- 
gether with those of many of the warriors, were further or- 
namented, by many little bows of red ribbon, tied thickly up 
and down the fringe of the outside seam. — The whole dresa 
and arms, at a little distance, appeared well to the eye. 

The women were of fine forms, good looking, and, indeed. 



256 DRESS OF NAVAJO WOMEN. 

many of them might be called pretty; — all neat, and cleanly 
in their appearance. — Their long black hair was braided in 
two parts, and trimmed with red ribbons ; the two braids 
tied with the same, in a bow on the back. They shaved the 
upper part of their foreheads, but all the remainder was al- 
lowed to remain of fall length. — They wore upon their per- 
sons a low-breasted, fine white chemise of wool, of their own 
manufacture ; — from the waist, a petticoat or half-dress, also 
of wool, but stouter than the first: this Was always wove in 
stripes of white and blue — these stripes running around the 
person. — This dress was short, and but few wore anything 
else, save bracelets and ear-rings of silver. — Some, however, 
of the families of the chiefs, wore moccasins, with high leg- 
gins, somewhat like a boot, but fitting close, and tied on the 
outside of the leg and ankles with red ribbons, or those of 
other bright colors. — These moccasins, when so worn by them, 
were ornamented on the foot, and leg, with needlework of 
beads and quills. — Their arms were bare, and their shoulders, 
vsave the strap of the chemise ; and, in this respect, precisely 
like the ranchero class of Mexican women. 

Their lodges, or tents, were made of skins, or dry hides, 
laid upon poles, which were supported by forks ; the interior 
•was floored with the same. The skins were carried from 
place to place, on pack mules. The whole labor of put- 
ting up and taking these lodges down, fell on the women. — 
Their cooking utensils were like those of the ranchero class 
of the Mexicans : earthen pots for boiling, of their own manu- 
facture ; the same kind of stones for grinding corn, &c. — 
Many of their dishes are cooked in the same way ; for the 
Mexican population have adopted the style of these abori- 
gines. 

When all of the negotiating chiefs, with their bands, had 
arrived, the council was, in the open air, entered into in due 
form. — In a large circle around, were seated the Indian chiefs, 
in their gaudy dress and plumes, on one side; and Colonel 
Doniphan, his field officers, captains and lieutenants, on the 
other ; while the pipe of peace, being lighted, was in silence 
passed around, from one to another — each taking a few whiffs 
at it. — This pipe was of great size, of stone; and the bowl 



ACCOUNT OF THE COUNCIL. 257 

would hold, of liquid, near a quart. — When this preliminary 
was through. Colonel Doniphan addressed them, in English, 
which was, by the interpreter, rendered to them in Spanish, 
which most of them understood. — He informed them, defi- 
nitely, of the war between the United States and Mexico 
of the conquest of the province of New Mexico, and of the 
determination of the United States to hold that province 
hereafter, as part of her own ; — that the government of the 
United States was powerful, and that they wished peace with 
their Indian neighbors ; — that now, as they had taken the 
country from the Mexicans, they wished this tribe, as well 
as all others, to be at terms of friendship with them there ; 
to visit them to trade, but not to plunder, or to make war 
upon the province, as they had done, when it was in the 
hands of their enemies, the Mexicans, &c., &c.— This speech 
was received in silence, and with attention, by the chiefs ; 
and, after a short pause, the head sachem arose, and express- 
ed his satisfaction that the Americans had conquered New 
JVIexico ; — that he knew they were great warriors ; — that 
their traders had been often among them ; — that his tribe 
were glad that they were now near them; and that they 
would preserve a sacred peace with them, &c., &c. — The 
■other chiefs also made speeches, and, finally, a treaty \vas 
concluded ; and the whole, in ratification, was closed by ex- 
changes of presents. 

Colonel Doniphan opened before them a stock of blankets, 
beads, knives, ribbons, cloth, trinkets, — all valued by them ; 
and more than all, tobacco. — In return, they presented him 
with many horses, mules, sheep and cattle ; also, blankets, of 
their own manufacture, dressed skins, ornamented moccasins, 
&c., &c. ; and after assurances of eternal amity and peace 
the council dispersed. — The detachment resumed its march 
to the north-east, and the bands of Indians separated to their 
various sections, in the valleys among the mountains, with 
good feeling and harmony between the parties. 

Four days' march, or about one hundred and twenty miles, 

through a very mountainous and barren country, — along, for 

part of the way, the upper waters of the Gila, and then down 

into the valley of the Rio Grande, — brought the troops to 

17 



258 COLONEL DONIPHAN RESUMES HIS MARCH. 

that river, at the town of Soccorro, a pretty, flourishing place. 
Another day's march down the river, brought them to the 
town of Valverdc, one hundred and ninety miles south of 
Santa Fe. Here they found a large collection of the traders' 
wagons, and four companies of the regiment who had come 
down here to protect these wagons, as well as to await the 
coming of the detachment, preparatory to the whole march- 
ing to the southward, to join General Wool at Chihuahua; 
and, on the arrival of a small train of wagons, containing 
provisions, &c., which were much needed, the regiment pro- 
ceeded on to the southward, down the Rio Grande, on its 
eastern bank, by easy marches ; leaving Valverde on the 
17th of December. 

At the little town of Fra Christoval, they were overtaken 
and joined by Lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, of the second Mis- 
souri regiment, with ninety-three men. A little to the south- 
ward of Fra Christoval, the river becomes hemmed in between 
high and precipitous ledges of mountains, which render a 
passage along its bank impossible. The road leaves the 
bank, and makes a bend to the eastward, passing through a 
long Jo?^7iada, {pron. Honiatha ; — commonly, by the soldiers, 
called Hornalla). The name means, literally, " a day's jour- 
ney," and is especially applied to those long tracts without 
water, which must be passed over at one time. This one is 
called the "Jornada del Mucrto,''^ or day's journey of death.* 

After passing this Jornada, the detachment halted at a 
little village, when within thirty miles of El Paso, to wait 
for the artillery and some men of the regiment, still be- 
hind, on the road from Santa Fe, now about three hundred 

* This Jornada derives its name from this circumstance : — About halfway through 
its extent of seventy n)iles, \s a small spring, seven miles from the road, to the west ; 
so small that but few animals can drink at a time. — It is solitarj', among the moun- 
tains ; and, as the Mexicans and traders have almost invariably been obliged, for the 
want of water, to come to it ; (for their pack mules are not able to go more than 
twenty miles a day, while subsisting on this grass ; consequently it takes several days to 
pass through it), the plundering bands of the Apache Indians have made it a place of 
lying in wait for unsuspecting travelers, like the Arabs at an oasis on the desert. — 
Many fights havetaken place over this little spring ; and the human bones of those who 
have here fallen from time to time, are scattered thickly around it. — Hence the name 
of the route, of which this dangerous place is the only one affording water. 



SCENE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. 251> 

and twenty miles to the north. — Here five Mexicans endea- 
vored, in the night, to go to El Paso, to give information to 
the Mexican forces there of the strength of the command.— 
Two of these were shot by the picket guard, Captain Ried's 
company, three miles in advance; the others made good their 
escape. 

The artillery not arriving on the morning of December 
25th, Christmas day, the march was resumed ; but only ten 
miles was made, and the troops encamped on the river, to 
the right of the road, as it came down ; it here turned off 
from the river bank, to avoid a succession of little sandy rises 
of land, one end of which came near the river lower down, 
and the other coming round nearly in a semi-circle, ended 
above, on the lower land. — These little hills were but of gen- 
tle elevation ; but the road turned off, as said before, to the 
left, passed around the upper extremity of them, and then 
wound round in the rear, coming to the river again ; then 
continuing its way along the bank to El Paso, about twenty 
miles distant. — ^Between these semi-circular hills and the 
bend of the river was a large area of level land. Into this 
area the head of the column, leaving the road as it wound 
to the left, round the hills, turned, and all passed on towards 
its centre, some hundred or two yards from the river, and halt- 
ing, encamped. — This was soon done ; for they had no tents, 
having left them when they went into the Indian country. 
The horses were soon unsaddled, and the piles of arms, sad- 
dles, &c., placed down in regular roM^s of companies, where 
the tents would have been placed, had they possessed them. 
The horses were then all turned out in the area to graze, for 
other forage than grass they seldom saw. 

The day being very pleasant, many of the men stretched 
themselves out to sleep, according to usual custom, when ar- 
riving in camp ; while some from each mess scattered about 
in every direction, for some distance from the camp, to get 
wood to make their fires. There being little else but brush 
wood, they went off some distance. — The little hills com- 
pletely hid the road towards El Paso from the view of those 
in camp. In the meantime, the wagons, which had beea 
behind, were rolling along leisurely to the camp. 



260 BATTLE OF BRAZITO. 

Ill this position were affairs, when some who had been up 
the hills after wood, and who could see down the road from 
there, came running into camp with the intelligence that a 
large force of the enemy were advancing up the road at full 
speed, and were then within half a mile. Every man jump- 
ed to his feet; and above the hill, at a short distance, the 
thick volumes of dust, rolling in the air, announced the en- 
emy's rapid approach. — The bugles sounded clearly ;-r-every 
one seized his arms. — The order was given to " saddle up ; " 
but in a moment the uniforms of the Mexican cavalry were 
seen, in a cloud of dust, to come whirling round the upper 
part of the hill, only a few hundred yards distant. — The 
order was countermanded in an instant, and the troops 
directed to fall into line on foot. — Those that were out on 
the other sides dropped their wood, that they had collected 
with so much trouble, and ran into camp. — Here was a 
busy scene : — scampering in every direction after their 
guns, which, from habit, they had laid so as to get hold of 
quickly ; — belting on swords and cartridge boxes, and 
running into line, all puffing and nearly out of breath. — 
The wagon master, with his teamsters and guard, was 
throwing his wagons into a close circle, to defend them. — 
Colonel Doniphan, Lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, and one or 
two other officers, succeeded in getting their horses, which 
had been tied up. 

The Mexican cavalry halted a few moments, while the in- 
fantry came into line. — That halt was fatal to them ; for, in 
those few moments, the line of the Missourians was formed 
shoulder to shoulder, while the few remaining absentees ran 
up and got into it. Colonel Doniphan and Lieut. Col. Mitch- 
ell rode up and down the line, to see it correct, and every one 
gathered full confidence, from the very quickness with which 
they had extricated themselves from their perilous unpre- 
pared situation ; and that confidence was refiected from 
commander to soldiers, and from the line of soldiers back to 
their commander. In five minutes, never were there a set 
of men more prepared, in resolution and confidence, to go 
into a desperate encounter. 

By this time, the Mexican infantry, which had rode on horses 



BATTLE OF BRAZITO. 261 

and mules to the scene of action, (by which they had been 
enabled to come up so quickly), had thrown themselves from, 
their animals, tied them to the bushes back of the hills, and 
appeared in order and force at the extremity nearest the 
river, and on the body of the hills, and formed in such large 
numbers, with the cavalry on the centre of the hills, and 
on the other extremity, deploying into such an extended col- 
umn, that there seemed no chance for the small collection of 
men, drawn up in one single line on the plain below, to op- 
pose them. — Added to this, a field piece was also, by the 
Mexicans, drawn up in the valley, near the river. 

A Mexican ofiicer now rode out from that line for a parley. 
— The interpreter, Mr. Caldwell, a man who had lived as a 
trader in New Mexico, and who knew their language and 
customs as well as they did themselves, advanced to meet 
him ; and in front of both lines they came near, and the 
Mexican demanded the surrender of the force ; — this, he Avas 
told, was impossible. 

After a few more words, the Mexican, waving a black flag 
that he held in his hand, told him " to prepare for the charge ; 
that they asked no quarter, and would give none !" — In ano- 
ther moment the interpreter returned, and the word of " no 
quarter," asked by the enemy, or given by them, was passed 
along the lines ; and it served but to stimulate the men to 
more iron energy in their defence. — The odds looked fearful : 
on one side, a gallant army of fourteen hundred men, seven 
hundred of them cavalry, well armed, and ready for the charge 
upon a single line of footmen, who were without bayonets to 
repel them ; while seven hundred infantry were forming on 
the other flank, to advance upon them, and a cannon in front 
was within canister distance, to pour its murderous fire upon 
them: and three more cannon, coming in the rear; and 
already the assurance was given by the black flag, and 
repeated by word of the enemy, that death alone would 
be awarded to all. — But the little band of less than five 
hundred* were cool and collected, as upon an evening 

* Lieut. Col. .Tackson, with a large detachment, being behind, at another encamp 
ment, engaged in retaking a great number of their horses and mules, which had es- 
caped from them and returned a day's march. 



262 BATTLE OF BRAZITO. 

dril}. The colonel rode along the lines, ordering the men to 
squat, and drop down, one after another, when the Mexican 
fire commenced, in order that they might bring the enemy up 
<jlose ; and then to rise at the command, when given, and 
pour their volley into the enemy's ranks, with coolness and 
accuracy of aim. — Thinking them a little too far from the 
river, he ordered them to retire a little by the backward step; 
which they did with their places in line, and their fronts to 
the imposing numbers of the enemy. — While stepping back, 
the bugles of the Mexicans sounded the charge, and the heavy 
columns of infantry fired volley after volley, while the field 
piece sent a shower of metal over the heads of the Americans. 
The cavalry fired, drew their sabres, and putting their columns 
in motion, advanced at a rapid rate. The American line was 
apparently sinking under their fire ; and the shouts of " buc- 
710," " bucno,^'' (good ! good !) could be heard from their ranks, 
as they spurred their horses on to ride down the survivors. 
— When within a few yards, at the command, those that they 
had apparently mistaken for dead or wounded, rose to their 
feet, and pouring a deadly fire into them, swept the front 
ranks of all their riders : so steady their aim, that few shots 
were lost by being too high, and few went so low as to touch 
a horse ; but the riders fell in numbers. General Ponce, the 
commander, was mortally wounded. — Astounded, they broke, 
in confusion ; while the infantry, on the right, being receiv- 
ed in the same %vay, fell back, and only weve anxious to re- 
gain their mules and horses, while the cavalry rallied, and 
made another attack on the wagon train, on the extreme 
left — secure, they thought, in getting that. But the team- 
sters, each armed, and the guard, or assistant teamsters at- 
tending, from w^ithin their circle of wagons, poured out such 
a stream of fire and death, that they could not bear it, but 
retreated over the hill; and while the line remained expect- 
ing another attack, they, under cover of the hill, retreated. 
— In the meantime, some of the men, from companies G and 
F, had left the lines, and dashing on their cannon, took it. — • 
In an hour from the time that they approached at such a ra- 
pid rate, eager almost to devour the Americans, and confident 
of victory, they were retreating at as rapid a rate, leaving 



TOWN OF EL PASO. 263 

on and near the ground seventy-one dead, and carrying away 
one hundred and fifty-six of the wounded — leaving eight 
to fall into the hands of the Americans ; by whom, how- 
ever, they were kindly treated. Six of these died during the 
following night. — The loss to the Missourians was only eight 
wounded. — As there were none mounted, and some time was 
lost in waiting at their posts, expecting the next attack, the 
Americans did not succeed in overtaking the fugitives. — And 
thus ended the battle of Brazito, not longer in time than an 
ordinary dinner, but hard-fought, and with a vast difi'erence 
in numbers and situation ; and in which the Missouri troops, 
although taken by surprise, and unprepared, behaved with a 
coolness and bravery which excited the admiration of the 
other divisions of the army, and of the whole body of people 
at home, when the accounts of the battle reached there. 

The troops remained encamped on the ground until eleven 
o'clock the next day, when they marched to within five miles 
of El Paso. The next morning (the 27tli) they marched to- 
wards the town. — They were met, two miles from it, by 
the deputation, consisting of the alcalde and three of the 
principal citizens, who surrendered the place at discretion. 
— The division marched into the public square ; and the first 
fruits of victory were soon realized, in having comfortable 
quarters, and plenty of provisions for themselves, and of for- 
age for their horses. — The Mexican army retreated to Carri- 
zal, one hundred and twenty miles from the scene of action. 
— After the troops had occupied El Paso about seven days, 
they were joined by the artillery, Captain Weightman, from 
Santa Fe — one hundred and seventeen men, — and, also, the 
remaining detachment of the regiment — about one hundred 
men. Thus the force of Colonel Doniphan was increased to 
upwards of nine hundred men, with six pieces of artillery. 

El Paso is quite a beautiful town, on the bank of the 
Rio Grande, which here is fordable and of clear water. The 
town is like other Mexican places in manner of building : — 
streets at right angles ; houses of one story, flat stone roofs, 
parapet walls, &c., &c. — The plaza of the town was the 
barracks of the troops. Requisitions were made on the au- 
thorities, for the necessary amount of meal, &c. 



264 RECAPITULATION OF ARMY MOVEMENTS. 

The people of the place were well treated by the troops ; 
but they could not forget the awful thrashing they had re- 
ceived from them, for a part of the Mexican forces at the 
battle were from the town ; consequently, though they pro- 
fessed friendship, yet they had the deepest enmity to them. 

Now, leaving Colonel Doniphan and his regiment in the 
possession of El Paso del Norte, at this period, the close of 
the year 1846, we will again notice that regiment, as its fu- 
ture operations come before us, commencing the account of 
them on page 

We will now make a hasty recapitulation of all that had 
been done by the three divisions of the army, up to this 
time, and the positions they were then in. 

1st. Army of occupation. General Taylor. — This had fought 
the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, defence of fort 
Brown, and those of Monterey ; — had taken possession of 
the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and New Leon ; the 
cities of Matamoras, Camargo, Monterey, Saltillo, and a 
great number of other towns, and were now stationed 
from the mouth of the Rio Grande, on the east, to Saltillo, 
on the west, with divisions, as said before, under generals 
Taylor, Patterson, and Quitman, preparing to move to the 
southward, from Monterey, Matamoras and Camargo, against 
Victoria. 

2d. The central army, under General Wool, had marched 
through the prairies of Texas from San Antonio to the Rio 
Grande, and across the state of Coahuila ; taking the towns 
of Preside, Santa Rosa, Monclova, and Parras, beside many 
smaller ones ; and they were now at Saltillo. 

3d. The northern army, under General Kearney, had 
marched across the plains, and had conquered the whole of 
New Mexico ; taking possession of all the towns in that 
state situated in the valley of the Rio Grande ; had made a 
campaign against the Navajo Indians, and fought the battle 
of Brazito, and were now separated, — General Kearney in 
California with part of his forces ; — part left at Santa Fe 
to hold the possession of that country, and Colonel Doni- 
phan's regiment in possession of the town of El Paso del 
Norte. 



OPERATIONS OF THE GULF SQUADRON. 265 

Now, reader, having given a sketch of the movements of 
each division of the army, up to the close of the year 184G, 
let us leave them, in possession of their various situa- 
tions at this time, and take a glance at the operations 
of the navy, from the commencement of the war up to the 
same time. 

On the 18th of May, eleven days after the battle of Resaca 
de la Palma, the Gulf squadron of the U. S. navy, con- 
sisting of the ships of war Falmouth, John Adams, Raritan, 
Somers, St. Marys, and steamer Mississippi, commenced the 
blockade of Vera Cruz, Tampico, and the whole of the east- 
ern coast of Mexico, save the province of Yucatan ; whicli 
was in a state of revolt against the government of that coun- 
try. — This exception in their behalf, it was soon found, they 
abused by importing into their towns large quantities of mu- 
nitions of war, and transporting them by land into Mexico ; 
to whom, their parent state, they were at heart in friendship, 
though nominally at variance. This traffic was carried on 
for some time, until their ports were at last laid under the 
same blockade, and that trade stopped. 

The fleet on this station had a hard task to perform in 
blockading so large an extent of coast, though several more 
vessels of war were soon sent to join the squadron ; — these 
were the Cumberland and Potomac frigates, the steamers 
Princeton, Vixen and Petrita, the brig Truxton, and others, 
all of which were under the command of Commodore Con- 
ner. There were no prizes to be taken, save a few coasting 
vessels (and some larger ones, taken when endeavoring to 
run the blockade). 

The boats of the St. Marys exchanged a few shot with the 
forts at the mouth of the Panuco river, near Tampico, with, 
however, but little effect. — Afterward, part of the squadron 
made two attempts to take the town of Alvarado, situated 
twenty-eight miles to the south-east of Vera Cruz ; but tliese 
failed, on account of there not being a sufficient depth of 
water on the bar at the mouth of the river to take the vessels 
over. In spite of all endeavors to prevent it, several vessels 
run the blockade into Vera Cruz during the " northers;" for, 
in these strong winds, the only anchorages at which the ves- 



266 OPERATIONS OF GULF SQUADRON. 

sels could lie were at Sacrificos and Anton Lizardo, one three 
and a half, and the other nine miles from the city, to the 
south-east, or to the leeward. 

On the 15th of August, the United States' brig Truxton, 
of ten guns, was lost, by the carelessness of the pilot, in ta- 
king her into an anchorage near Tuspan. The conunander, 
Captain Carpenter, and all the officers and crew, were taken 
prisoners of war, with the exception of two lieutenants, 
Berryman and Hunter, with nineteen men, who left the ves- 
sel ; — the first in a boat, to go to the squadron at Vera Cruz, 
to obtain assistance ; the second, in another boat, captured a 
Mexican sail that hove in sight, and took her to the squad- 
ron also. 

On the 14th of November, Commodore Perry took posses- 
sion of the important city of Tampico, at the mouth of the 
Panuco river. This was the second commercial city of Mexico. 
— It had been abandoned by the Mexican force, a little while 
before. Their object, in this movement, is hard to perceive. 

On the 26th of November, Commodore Perry, wdth six 
vessels, attacked the city of Tobasco, and nearly destroyed 
it, by a severe cannonading ; answered, on the part of the 
enemy, by the forts ; with a loss to the Americans of a few 
men killed and wounded ; — among them was Lieutenant 
Morris, who received a mortal wound. When the squadron 
retired from the place, it took with it, as prizes, one Mexi- 
can brig, two steamers, four schooners, one sloop, and seven 
smaller vessels ; — one of the schooners at first taken, having 
run aground, was burned. 

About the first of December, a gallant and successful at- 
tempt to burn a vessel, under the guns of the castle of San 
Juan de Ulloa, was planned, and executed in the night, by a 
party from the United States' brig Somers, of ten guns. — 
Shorly after, midshipman Rogers and surgeon Wright, of the 
same vessel, with a boat's crew, landed in the night, near to 
the town of Vera Cruz, to examine the position of the mag- 
azine, to blow it up, if possible. — These, however, were dis- 
covered, and Rogers and one seaman taken prisoners. 

A few days afterwards, on the evening of December 7th, 
the Somers was capsized in a squall, not far from the anchor- 



OPERATIONS OF PACIFIC SQUADRON. 267 

age, and sunk in less than fifteen minutes ; and more than 
thirty of her crew were drowned. 

The services of the whole Gulf squadron were, during the 
summer and fall, extremely arduous. — The scurvy broke out 
among the crews ; and that of the frigate Raritan was nearly 
disabled, from its effects. 

Leaving this fleet, now, at the close of the year, blocka- 
ding still the ports on the eastern coast of Mexico, let us 
turn to the operations of the Pacific squadron, on the west- 
ern coast, under Commodore Sloat ; from which, on account 
of distance, nothing was heard for some time after the war 
broke out ; and against the commander of which, many char- 
ges of " inactivity^" &c., &c., were, in the meantime, made 
by many portions of the public press of the United States. 
— With what justice these charges were made, we will take 
notice. 

Before the actual commencement of hostilities, the United 
States had a large fleet in the Pacific ocean ; most of which 
were on, or near, the western coast of Mexico. This fleet 
consisted of the 

Frigate Savannah 54 guns. Commodore Sloat; 

do. Congress 56 do. Captain Stockton ; 

do. Constitution, 60 do. 

Corvette Portsmouth- 22 do. 

do. Warren 22 do. 

do. Cyane 24 do. 

do. Levant 20 do. 

Schooner Shark 12 do. 

Transp't Erie 5 do. 

Commodore Sloat, in the Savannah, was at the port of Ma- 
zatlan, on the western part of Mexico, to the southward of 
the Californias, when, on the 7th of June, he heard rumors 
of actual hostilities between the two nations, and a vague 
report of the actions of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. 
— Nothing definite could he learn : all the information was 
through some extracts of letters from the interior of Mexico, 
sent to Mexicans in Mazatlan. — The gallant commodore was 
completely at a loss, for a few hours, to determine his course 



268 OPERATIONS OF PACIFIC FLEET, 

— If this information was correct, it was of the first impor- 
tance that the sea coast of the province of Upper Cahfornia 
should be taken at once, by the naval force ; and he had suf- 
ficient force to do this, and could immediately strike an im- 
portant blow in that quarter. — But, on the other hand, these 
reports might not be true, and the United States and Mexico 
might still be at peace. If this should be the case, any pos- 
session that he might take of towns on the coast of Califor- 
nia, would but widen the breach between the two countries ; 
and, on the part of the United States, give cause to Mexico 
for a war ; and, moreover, in such a case, he would himself 
be liable to public reprehension, and be certain of procuring 
for himself the honor of an investigation into his conduct by 
a naval court martial ; — which prospect was not agreeable : 
for the commodore had a case directly in point, before him ; 
which was that of Commodore Jones, who, in command of 
the squadron on this coast, in 1842, was deceived by precise- 
ly a similar rumor to this, and, acting upon it, sailed for 
Monterey, the capital of Upper California, and to the utter 
astonishment of the people, landed a force and took posses- 
sion of the place; — disregarding their assurances of peace 
between the nations, &c., until, after a few days' possession, 
he found that he Avas wrong; and then immediately, in the 
most quiet manner he could, he surrendered it into the hands 
of the authorities again. 

The eftect of the whole transaction was, 1st, to make Com- 
modore Jones and his officers feel extremely mortified ; 2d, 
to bring down on them the censure of the public voice, in 
both countries ; 3d, to subject the noble old commodore to a 
severe investigation of his conduct and motives, by a court 
martial, — always unpleasant, and grating to the feelings of 
any officer, but much more so to one in high command, and 
in whose judgment the government of the United States had 
shown their confidence, by confiding to him, in a distant sea, 
the interests of the nation. And, beside all this, it gave a 
cause of complaint to Mexico, and, in a considerable degree? 
assisted her, as a plausible pretext for covering her conduct 
towards the United States, by raising loud complaints against 
this occupation, and saddling the government of the United 



UNDER COMMODORE SLOAT. 260 

States with the order to Commodore Jones to do this ; while, 
at the same time, holding out to her — Mexico — pacific and 
friendly offers. — All over that republic a furious hue and cry 
was raised, on account of the transaction. 

Now, on this evening of the 7th of June, after hearing 
these vague reports, all this rose before the mind of Commo- 
dore Sloat. — If he took the responsibility of capturing the 
coast of California without orders, without official notice of 
hostilities between the two nations, and especially \vith the 
example of the proceedings of Commodore Jones before him, 
and these reports should be incorrect, then, the consequen- 
ces to him would be severe; and to both nations of much 
injury. But on the other hand, if they were true, his quick 
operations would be of most decided advantage to his coun- 
try. — Far off, in that ocean, the actual position of the two 
governments was unknown to him ; — his data, upon which 
to form his calculations upon actions so important, were un- 
satisfactory ; — the moment was critical ; there was but little 
time for reflection. — He considered the whole ; determined 
to take the responsibility, run all risk, and perform it. — 
Once determined, there was no delay. 

The sun, when rising the following morning, revealed to 
the inhabitants, the busy squadron, raising their anchors and 
loosing their sails ; and, at eight o'clock, under a crowd of 
canvass spread to the breeze, they left the port, and were 
soon lost to view over the distant v^^aters. 

He arrived at Monterey, the capital of Upper California, 
before the news of hostilities reached there, and took undis- 
puted possession of the town, and hoisted the flag of the 
United States over it on the 7th of July ; and on the 9th, in 
the same manner, took possession of the town of San 
Francisco, (situated at the mouth, and commanding the bay, 
of San Francisco ; one of the best harbors on the Pacific 
coast) ; also of the towns of Sonoma and Bodega. 

On the 12th, the Amei'ican flag was floating over the town 
Pueblo de San Jose ; and also. Captain Sutter, the enterpris- 
ing master of the settlement of Nueva Helvetia, on the wa- 
ters of the Sacramento, raised the flag over his fort. — 
r Colonel Fremont describes this fort as being able to 



270 EXPEDITION AGAINST SAN DIEGO. 

admit a garrison of one thousand men, and as mounting 
twelve pieces of artillery ; in that country, a formidable 
stronghold). 

On the 16th, a fortified position, the mission of San Juan, 
forty miles from Monterey, was taken, and a garrison put 
into it. 

On the 26th, the corvette Cyane, of twenty-four guns, sailed 
down the coast with Colonel Fremont's* riflemen, (who for- 
tunately, v»-ere in the neighborhood on the arrival of the 
squadron), to attack San Diego. 

All the ports on the coast of Upper California were taken 
by the forces of Commodore Sloat. (Still, as said before, 
without orders, or even official information that war had 
taken place ; but, as he had commenced at the capital, he 
took the whole). He issued a proclamation to the people of 
California, in which he invited all of the prefects, alcaldes, 
and other civil officers, under the Mexican rule, to remain in 
the exercise of the powers of their various offices ; assuring 

* Captain, (aftenvard colonel), Fremont arrived in California with his party of ex- 
ploration from the United States, before the commencement of the war ; that is, about 
the 1st of January, 1846 ; and as he had been in the country before, he felt no hesi- 
tation in leaving his camp, and proceeding into the town of Monterey, alone ; where, 
meeting the Mexican authorities, he explained to them the scientific object of his explo- 
ration, &c., with which they were satisfied ; but in a day or two after, choosing to re- 
gard him as an invader, the governor, General Castro, sent to Captain Fremont an 

imperative and insulting order, to quit the province of California immediately This 

Fremont refused to be compelled to do ; and, being encamped in a strong position, 
■with his little party of about sixty all told, sent word to General Castro that he should 
not do it, hut, on the contrary, if attacked, should defend himself to the last. — Castro 
immediately collected about one hundred and fifty men to expel the invaders, as he 
termed them; but not daring to make an attack, for several days, Fremont's party re- 
mained in their camp, and then left, for the renewal of their explorations in the pro- 
vince. In their camp was left some old baggage, worn out camp kettles, &c. ; — these 
the valorous General Castro immediately seized upon, and made out a flowing dispatch 
to the government of Mexico, stating that ihe American army of invasion had been 
repulsed by him, and had retreated with such precipitancy, that they had left all their 
camp equipage, which had fallen into his hands ! Fremont pursued his observations. 
Castro, with a larger force, determined to exterminate the Americans ; and pressed 
him so closely, that, although ignorant of the war, Capt. Fremont was obliged to 
turn upon his adversary ; which he did, promptly. Then capturing a detachment of 
Mexican troops; on the 15th taking Sonoma, by surprise ; on the 25th cutting to 
pieces the advance guard of Castro's army; and finally, on the 4th of July, three 
days before Commodore Sloafs arrival, declaring the independence of California. 



GENERAL KEARNEY'S ARRIVAL IN CALIFORNIA, 271 

all quiet citizens of protection, and informing them that every 
thing demanded, for the use of the United States' ships and 
troops, should be paid for at fair prices, &c. 

After taking possession of the whole coast, the gallant 
commodore left again for Mazatlan, which he reached about 
the middle of August ; and found, just arrived for him, offi- 
cial communications from the Secretary of the Navy, at 
Washington, of the existing war with Mexico, accompanied 
with orders to do all that he had just accomplished ! — The 
conduct of this officer, during the whole of these operations, 
in the peculiar circumstances in which he was placed, cer- 
tainly deserves the highest commendation. — Though little 
has been said about it; — for, from the distance, it took such 
a length of time for the reports of the capture of the pro- 
vince to reach the United States, and so many stirring events 
were happening in the army, nearer at home, — these opera- 
tions passed without their merited degree of praise. — Com- 
modore Sloat, afterwards, yielding the command of the Pa- 
cific fleet — which then was engaged in guarding the coast of 
California, and blockading that of southern Mexico, — to Com- 
modore Stockton, returned to the United States; leaving Cali- 
fornia in a state of quiet, under its new government. — An 
insurrection afterward broke out against this, but was quell- 
ed by General Kearney, then arrived from Santa Fe, Colonel 
Fremont, and Commodore Stockton. 

The United States, in the meantime, had sent into Califor- 
nia, under General Kearney, a battalion of Mormon infantry^ 
five hundred strong, under the immediate command of Colo- 
nel Cooke, through from Missouri by Santa Fe ; and also sent 
a regiment of nearly one thousand strong, under Colonel Ste- 
phenson, from the city of New York, round by sea, to the 
same province. This regiment was mustered in for the war, 
and was composed of men whose desire it was, to remain in 
that country afterward, as citizens. — In addition to this, was 
a force of California residents, mustered into service by Co- 
lonel Fremont. — All these, together with part of the fleet, 
held California perfectly secure. The remainder of the fleet 
were engaged in the strict blockade of the Mexican Pacific- 
coast below California. 



.272 CHANGE IN MEXICAN GOVERNMENT. 

Now, reader, we have given you a correct account of all 
the operations of the war up to the close of the year 1846, 
and are about to enter upon those of 1847. — But let us, in 
the meantime, devote a little space to the change that had 
been made in the administration of the government of Mex- 
ico, and her action with regard to the proposals of peace that 
had been made by the United States. 

As said in the commencement of this work, revolution af- 
ter revolution had followed in Mexico, for several years ; but 
of late, all the heads of that government, though differing 
widely on other subjects, had been hostile to the United States, 
and all were more or less in favor of open hostilities with that 
power; — though the government of Herrera, which continued 
from June until December, 1845, was less so than the others. 
On this very account was that government deposed, and Gen- 
eral Paredes, bitterly hostile to the United States, was ele- 
vated to the presidency ; and active operations were imme- 
diately commenced, for the prosecution of the war. — x'Vfter 
the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, every nerve was strain- 
ed, in effecting its object. — The government of Paredes only 
existed until the 4th of August, when General Salas, and his 
associates, rose, seized the reins of power, and imprisoning 
Paredes, invited Santa Anna to return from Havana, where 
he had been in banishment from his country for little more 
than a year, and to take the direction of affairs. — Santa Anna 
being the enemy of the administration which had been in 
power, and which had directly brought on the war with the 
United States, the government of the latter offered no ob- 
stacle to his return ; thinking that his policy would be to 
heal the breach between the two countries. — Commodore Con- 
nor Avas instructed to let him pass the fleet undisturbed, 
which he did, arriving at Vera Cruz on the 16th of August; 
and immediately afterward assumed the reins of government, 
amid the universal rejoicing of the fickle populace, whose 
confidence, now, was great in their strength ; and it was 
universally predicted, throughout Mexico, that General Santa 
Anna would soon drive all the Americans from the borders 
•of the republic. 

His reception at Vera Cruz and Jalapa at first, and after- 



SANTA ANNA'S RETURN TO MEXICO. 273 

ward at Puebla and other towns on his course to the city of 
Mexico, was most enthusiastic, aud the populace and leaders 
seemed to A'ie with each other in rendering him homage. — 
By delay at his hacienda of Encerro, he did nut arrive at the 
city until the 15th of September, and he then assumed the 
supreme executive power. 

At the very time that the republic received her great 
general on the south, she lost the large and valuable pro- 
vince of New Mexico on the north, Santa Fe being taken by 
General Kearney. 

Information had, a short time before, been received at the 
capital, of the loss of California ; and the first news that 
greeted the people, after their idolized general had taken 
his place in power, was of the fall of the strong city of Mon- 
terey, with its garrison of ten thousand men, before the quiet 
old man, Zachary Taylor, and his six thousand hated "Amer- 
icanos." — The news of the loss of New Mexico followed ; — 
but all these reverses were nothing to them; — General Santa 
Anna would soon bring every thing right. 

The government of the United States were most grievously 
deceived in him ; for no sooner was he ashore in Mexico, 
and away from the guns of the fleet, than he immediately 
treated the propositions which the United States then offered 
for peace with contempt, and set himself seriously to rais- 
ing an army. — At this time, (the close of the year), he was 
at San Louis Potosi, with an army of about twenty-two or 
twenty-three thousand men, cavalry, infantry, and artillery, 
which, with great labor, he had drilled, and in about a month 
after this time, set out with his force, to accomplish his pur- 
pose of "driving every American beyond the Sabine river." 
— With what success he met in his undertaking, we will re- 
late hereafter. 

In the present month, December, the congress of Mexico met, 
and so fully convinced were they of the glorious conquest 
that should be achieved by this " Napoleon of the west," as 
Santa Anna called himself to General Houston years before, 
that they refused to hear of any terms of peace, until the 
forces of the United States should be recalled, and their ves- 
sels of war withdrawn from their coasts. — Of course the war 
18 



274 POSITIONS OF AMERICAN AND MEXICAN TROOPS. 

proceeded; the infatuated Mexican nation seemed determined 
to draw down upon itself a continuation of its evils. 

Now we will end this chapter, with the recapitulation of 
the account of the disposition of the American, and, also, the 
Mexican troops, at this time. — As said before, General Tay- 
lor\s army was on the Rio Grande, and through the slates of 
Nueva Leon and Coahuila, at Brazos, Matamoras, Reynoso, 
Camargo, Marin, Ceralvo, Monterey, and Raltillo ; in posses- 
sion of all that section of country. — General Kearney with 
part of his in California ; part near Santa Fe, in New Mex- 
ico, and Colonel Doniphan's regiment at El Paso. — Tampico 
was in the possession of a force of our troops, consistizig of 
the Alabama regiment, under Colonel Coffee, and eight com- 
panies of artillery, all under Brig. Gen. Shields. — The fleets 
of vessels of war on both coasts were enforcing a vigilant 
blockade. 

On the part of the Mexicans, Santa Anna was at San Luis 
Potosi, with his large army ; General Urrea at Victoria, with 
a considerable force ; General Valencia at Tula, farther to 
the south-west, with a formidable force ; General Heredia at 
Chihuahua, with five thousand men; General Cos at Tuzpan, 
with two thousand ; General Morales at Vera Cruz, with six 
thousand ; and smaller garrisons and detachments, of from 
five hundred to a thousand men,w^ere in all the towns along 
the coasts, or in those near the lines of the American army. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

We will now enter upon the minute details of the march 
of our regiment and division, under General Patterson. — 
On December 21st, our regiment left camp Ringgold, hav- 
ing our horses all recruited in appearance and action, and 
moved into town, preparatory to the march. — The deserted 
camp looked desolate, as we formed in line on our old pa- 
rade ground ; and almost every one cast back a look at the 
place as the column left. 

Many rancheros were secreted about, on the outside of the 
lake, watching our departure; and no sooner had we gone, 
save the rear guard, than they rushed in numbers on the 
ground, which was covered with broken saddles, old bridles, 
clothing of every description, much of it good, bars of 
soap, little bags of beans, rice, flour, and any quantity 
of bread and pork ; (all these things left in parcels, by 
each mess, they being unable to carry them away, for now 
one wagon was to carry everything for two companies, 
instead of one, as before) ; bent and broken camp kettles, 
still good for stationary use, torn canvass of tents, straps, 
any number of old stirrups, &c., &c.; such a variety as was 
seldom left in camp, and which had been caused by the al- 
most entirely new fit out that every man had provided for 
himself. 

Into this variety the rancheros rushed, and the " grab 
game " was played to admiration by them ; much to the 
amusement of the guard, who remained on their horses to ob- 
serve the scene. — The only difficulty that the rancheros had, 
was, that there was more than each could carry off; and while 
some ran off as fast as possible with a load, to be back 

(275) 



276 MARCH OF GENERAL PATTERSON'S DIVISION. 

quickly, others were running about making heaps of the 
plunder, and a great time they had of it. 

The regiment marched through the city, and encamped on 
the river bank. — Captain Caswell's company had, the day 
before, left the camp, to go on, as the advance, with the third 
and fourth regiments of Illinois infantry, under Brigadier- 
general Pillow. These had already left the city, and, to- 
gether with the artillery, had moved out on the San Fernan- 
do road, eighteen miles, to a place called Moquite, and en- 
camped until all were ready, and the supplies forwarded. 

December 22d. Five companies more of our regiment left 
this forenoon, a little in advance of Major-general Patterson, 
for Moquite ; — the troops of the division being now all 
^one, save four companies of us, who remained until the suc- 
ceeding day. — In the meantime, the last wagon train was 
sent out, with the cavalry, 

December 23d. The four companies of us who had remain- 
ed until the last, this morning struck our tents on the Rio 
Grande, and marched into town ; were halted on the plaza, 
and dismissed for an hour, while the few remaining wagons 
took the road. — We had orders to re-assemble quickly, at the 
sound of the bugles. — All of the American population of the 
city were, this morning, in a state of ferment. A steamboat 
had arrived from up the river, and her advices brought, were 
of a most exciting character. — They were, the news of the 
departure of generals Taylor, Twiggs, and Quitman, with a 
heavy body of troops from Monterey and Camargo, towards 
the southward, for Victoria ; and, also, dispatches from Gen. 
Butler, left in command of the troops stationed at Monterey 
and Camargo; and others, from Gen. Taylor to Gen. Patterson. 
— (These were forwarded to Moquite post haste.) — She farther 
brought reports of the advance of Santa Anna, with an army 
of twenty-two thousand men, upon Saltillo, Monterey, and the 
valley of the Rio Grande ; and also others, that the Mexican 
scattered forces, in the upper section, emboldened by the de- 
parture of so many troops, were collecting in force of some two 
thousand, under Canales,for the attack of Matamoras ; and, 
finally, that a general and vigorous effort was immediately 
about to be made, by all the Mexican forces, for the recap- 



EXCITEMENT AT MATAMORAS. 277 

ture of their conquered territory on the Rio Grande. — (Part 
of all this we afterward found to be true, and part only ru- 
mor.)— This news received, together with the departure of so 
many troops, had created a great stir in Matamoras. — One re- 
giment only, the 3d Ohio, had been left there, (though others, 
of the new levy, were expected from the United States) ; for 
the third Indiana, Colonel Lane, had, a few days before, gone 
up to Camargo. — This boat, also, brought news that this latter 
regiment, and five hundred regular infantry, from Camargo, 
had been ordered to march, in haste, to Monterey and Sal- 
tillo ; leaving only the second Ohio regiment. Colonel Mor- 
gan, and a part of the Kentucky regiment of cavalry, at Ca- 
margo. — These movements up the river, confirmed all the re- 
ports, in the minds of the inhabitants of Matamoras ; and, 
on this day, loud complaints came from every quarter, about 
so many troops leaving the city ; exposed, as they said, to 
the mercy of the enemy. 

Colonel Curtis had, a few days before, called on all Ameri- 
can citizens, who had come to Matamoras, to enrol themselves 
for duty, in case the town should be attacked ; and they had 
done so : while more artillery, arms and ammunition, were 
brought up from the Brazos ; — (at this latter place, on the 
next day, the 24th, General Jesup, quartermaster general, 
who had, a few days before this, arrived from the United 
States, enrolled every resident, sutler, merchant, clerk, team- 
ster, &:c., &c. — leaving Matamoras on this day, on the re- 
ception of this news, post haste, to do it). 

In the midst of all this excitement and bustle, the sound 
of the bugles rung through the plaza, and we rapidly fell 
into lines, and, followed by the anxious gaze of the citizens, 
— who disliked to see us leave, — marched out of the south- 
ern entrance of the city, on the road towards Victoria ; our 
force completing the division of General Patterson, of near 
two thousand men. 

The road lay over an uninteresting section, partly prairie 
and partly close chapparal. — It being late when we left Ma- 
tamoras, we did not arrive at the camp, at Moquite, until 
after dark. — We found that General Patterson, with one re- 
giment of infantry, and the six companies of our cavalry 



278 WANT OF GOOD WATER. 

which were ahead, and the artillery, with part of the wagon 
train, had commenced his march that morning ; leaving the 
other regiment of infantry, our four companies of cavalry, 
and the remainder of the wagon train, to follow, under Gen- 
eral Pillow, the next morning ; separating the division on 
account of the scarcity of water ahead, for the next three or 
four days' march : after vv^hich, they were to be re-united. — 
There was nothing interesting in the appearance of this 
camp, revealed to us by the light of the next morning. — It 
was on the border of a wide, shallow lake, that spread out, 
overgrown with rushes. 

December 24th. This morning we were roused by the fifes 
and drums, in addition to our long accustomed bugles ; — or- 
dered to get our breakfasts early, and prepare for the march. 
— Our rations, and amounts of forage for horses, were redu- 
ced one-half; our cooking utensils in the same proportion. 
— The reason of this was, the length of the march ahead, 
through a country incapable of furnishing supplies ; and those 
transported, had to go as far as possible. 

We were on the march by seven o'clock, three of our com- 
panies proceeding as an advance, followed by the train, and 
that by the infantry ; then came the rear-guard. — The road 
lay over a dry, parched prairie, lone and desolate ; making 
the march uninteresting and tiresome. — At two, P. M., after 
proceeding about twenty miles, we encamped on the bank 
of a dirty lake. The water was of a greenish black ; thick 
with slime and mud. — Our horses, although having had none 
all day, refused to touch it. — We strained it through cloth^ 
and boiled it, to make coffee; but it was bad, any way. — 
The infantry were soon in, and somewhat fatigued with the 
inarch ; but a rest of an hour or two, brought them all right 
again. — Our horses' scanty feed we endeavored to partially 
remedy, by going round the lake and gathering, from under 
the thorny musquit bushes, the tall dry grass that grew up 
into them, which the herds of cattle and horses had not been 
able, on account of the thorns, to get out. — Many of the 
horses were found, this evening, with swelled and sore backs, 
fi-om the extra weight of their four days' corn, which every 
jnan was obliged to take, in addition to his own four days' 



CHRISTMAS DAY. 279 

rations. — The evening was bright moonlight, and spent by- 
all in conversation, around in groups. 

Friday, Beccimbcr 2Uh — Chrislmas Day. Well, reader, we 
hope that you spent your Christmas more pleasantly than we 
did ; for oars was rough. — ^We left camp at an early hour, 
and continued to march over a wide, sun-burnt, bare prairie 
— uninteresting and fatiguing. — After marching about ten 
miles, we of the advance came to a dirty, black lake, upon 
the banks of which we halted for the infantry and wagon 
train, now far in the rear, to come up.— We had drank but 
little of the nauseous water of that lake where we had en- 
camped the night before, hoping to arrive at some better du- 
ring the day. — At this one we were disappointed ; not even 
would our horses drink it. 

We remained in line, drawn up, while General Pillow dis- 
mounted, seated himself near the bank, in front of us, and 
regaled himself with some viands that his servant brought 
to him. We knew not what they were, but he appeared to 
relish them exceedingly, being some time before us, parta- 
king of them ; and, therefore, we presumed that they were 
very fine : one thing was certain — it was the general's Christ- 
mas dinner. — After he had finished these, he raised a bottle 
to his lips. — (At this, many of our disrespectful men, not hav- 
ing the dignity of a general before their eyes, winked at 
one another along the lines, and insinuated, in whispers, 
that it contained good old brandy.) — The sight of the din- 
ner and the bottle, on Christmas day, had a strong efl:ect 
on many in the column, who, in default of anything better, 
pulled from their dingy haversacks their hard crackers, now 
soiled and black from being carried on their sides two days, 
through the dust; and some, who were lucky enough to have a 
dirty piece of fat pork left, added that, and ate the whole, their 
Christmas dinner, with a hearty, good relish; — finishing by a 
pull at their canteens, of the aforesaid dirty water, that 
they had brought along, to drink, in case they should get no 
better. This draught was taken with many wry faces, and 
heaving of the stomach ; but, by strong eflbrts, they kept it 
down. — It was the best dinner they could raise. 

After finishing hia meal and draught, the general arose, in- 



280 OUR CHRISTMAS DAY AND DINNER. 

serted a cigar between his lips, and, the infantrj' being near 
mounted his splendid horse, and ordered the column forward * 
and forward we went. — We looked onward to the next 
Christmas, for our good dinner. — The day became excessive- 
ly hot, but fortunately there was a strong breeze from the 
south-east, that blew directly across our route, taking oft' the 
dense clouds of dust from the dry prairie, that appeared as 
if no rain had moistened its parched surface in years. — It 
resembled, in barrenness, the desert ; although the soil, in it- 
self, seemed to be good ; and, undoubtedly, the whole vast 
extent in sight would have been clothed in green, like the 
prairies that we passed in Texas, if it had been rained upon 
like those ; but here are two seasons : a short rainy one, and 
a long dry one ; and this time was in the latter. — We con- 
tinued the march, finding no water until about three P. M., 
when we arrived at a miserable collection of ranchos, on 
small, dry, barren knolls. This collection was called San- 
ta Teresa, a pretty name, but a poor place as possible to be 
found. — Here were tough times for men and horses. 

The ranchos were on the knolls ; — in the little valley were 
three large holes, each about twenty-five feet across and six 
or eight feet deep, dug out to contain water ; and such wa- 
ter as it was ! — It had a thick, green, slimy scum over it, and 
in it thousands of green frogs ; for it had been in the holes 
since the last rainy season ; it was very warm ; — but that was 
not all : the water itself was green with slime, and would not 
settle, nor could the slime be separated from it by straining ; 
the smell of it was nauseous, the taste ten times worse. — • 
Many, although suffering, could not bear it near them ; oth- 
ers, of stronger stomachs, got some down; — with the author, 
and many others, it acted as an instantaneous emetic. — 
The horses drank a little of it, and refused more. 

The ranchos had raised corn during the rainy season, and 
now had it to sell, at two rials a media almud, about a gal- 
lon. — Every one of us, of the cavalry, were glad to get the 
opportunity to buy it for our horses,* who were on very small 

* A question might here arise with the reader, why was not this com taken for the 
use of the army, or bought by the quarter master and furnished to the cavalry, in- 
stead of obliging the men to pay their own hard earned wages for it ? — This, the au- 



WANT OF WATER. 281 

allowance, and with no grass, not a particle of which could 
be seen on the parched hills. — Our fare in eatables, at night, 
was equally scant. — Such, reader, was our Christmas. 

We have spoken of the cavalry ; — the time of the infantry 
was still harder, in having to march twenty-six miles with- 
out water. — They were very tired when they arrived, and 
they threw themselves on the ground to sleep. — The wagon 
train came in ; the guards were set, and in the bright moon- 
light we all lay down. 

December 2Gth. — The drums beat, and the shrill fifes and 
clear bugles roused us before day, to prepare for the march. 
We got some of the green water, boiled it, and made it 
strong with coffee, and thus were enabled to swallow a little. 
— The upper hole was not quite so bad as the others^ 
and our horses would drink some more of that, as well as 
ourselves. (Wells are not dug here because all the under 
strata in this prairie land are salt). 

— The lines were formed, and we struck out on the road, 
just as the sun was rising over the level desert behind us ; 
before and around was the same level scene. The train 
came after us ; then came the regiment of lilinoisans, and 
then the rear guard composed of one of our companies. 

The morning air was pleasant, and the sky cloudless. — 
Not an animal, wild or tame, was on the vast circumference ; 
not the appearance of a bird enlivened it ; — sunburnt and 
parched it lay. — Once in the distance of several miles, might 
be seen a sword palmetto raising its head ; but these were 
few, far apart. After marching seventeen miles, we came 
to a small lake of black, muddy w^ater, similar to that at 

thor cannot answer, without it arose from the policy adopted by the government, in 
the whole course of this war, under the profession of " protection to the inhabitants;" 
a protection that was not thanked for by them, and the only effect of which was, to 
give to the people of any section great advantages by the army passing through thoir 
country ; advantages which they repaid to the troops by murder and robbery of 
our men, wherever opportunity offered. — To the men, who had left their homes to 
serve their country, the effect was, to deprive them of many comforts they might have 
had, and in many cases to make them suffer much, to beneht those rascally Mexicans 
but a little. — All the march to Victoria, this was the case ; after this day, there was 
plenty of corn along, and the author has seen men, often, spending their last picayuntr 
to buy it for their half-fed horses. 



282 WANT OF WATER. 

which we stopped two nights before ; — the water of this not 
drinkable, save by straining it, which might have been done, 
for it was not of the green slimy kind of that of St. Teresa, 
but was of a thicker, blacker, earthy slime and mud, much 
of which might have been taken from it. — Here General Pat- 
terson encamped the night before ; and we should have done 
BO too, but when the infantry and train came up, the general 
ordered us on. 

This order we gladly obt^yed, thinking that he had heard 
of better water ; but, as we afterward found, if he had, he 
could not find it ; — there was no more on the road for eigh- 
teen miles further. When we left this lake, our suffering in- 
creased, with the heat of the sun, mile after mile ; again 
and again did we look for water, and still we were dis- 
appointed. The general was evidently wrongly informed, 
and appeared to be uneasy ; — after proceeding about ten 
miles from the last lake, or twenty-seven from the morning 
Btart, and still finding no water, he sent back Corporal 
Rhodes, of our company, with three men, bearing a message 
to the ofiicer commanding the infantry, for them to continue 
their march until all came up to water, (which was about 
eight miles from the advance, according to the report of some 
Mexican traders that we met, with their drove of pack mules, 
going towards Matamoras) ; and also to have those who 
could not keep up, under the excessive fatigue, put into the 
wagons and hauled along. The corporal and men left, and 
the general remark was, along our lines, " How can the Illi- 
noisans, on foot, stand it on such a day?" We found, 
the next day, that they surely had a tough time. — Each man 
was loaded with his knapsack, containing his blanket and 
clothing ; beside this, his musket and cartridge-box, with 
forty rounds of ammunition, and then his haversack, with his 
provisions for that night, (for this was the third day since 
the four days' rations had been issued), and his canteen; — 
and, faint and exhausted, thus loaded in the hot sun and 
dust, had to make the march of thirty-five miles. 

They stood it manfully, however, hardly able, for the last 
few miles, to set one foot before the other ; every one, with- 
out exception, oflicers and men, having their feet severely 



THE "LONG DAY'S MARCH." 283 

blistered and raw; — (but in these last miles, many, entirely 
overcome by their load, fatigue, and thirst, threw themselves 
down on the ground, being unable to come up with the wa- 
gons, and begged of the rear guard of our cavalry, under one 
of our lieutenants, to allow them to remain ; some saying 
that they had rather die than go on ; that they would come 
up in the cool of the evening ; that if they only had a swal- 
low of water, they could go on ; that they were faint, &c. — 
The lieutenant and his men were compelled, by order, to 
bring them on; coaxed them, encouraged them, got off their 
horses and put them on, walking themselves ; and by great 
exertion, and words of encouragement and kindness, they got 
the exhausted men along, and up to camp, after dark ; — here 
was suffering). 

We continued to ride over the parched prairie, though 
slowly, for our horses suffered from the want of water. — We 
now saw, in the west, the high, blue outline of the distant 
mountains. — Those mountains of Mexico, which, filled with 
the precious metals, had enriched the world. — They were 
now before us, and we gazed on their distant faint blue tops, 
but thought not of the riches there ; — but they appeared to 
look down upon us, and offer us pure streams of water, 
which, at that time, seemed of more importance and value, 
than their riches. — Every eye in our ranks was fixed upon 
them; — for a long distance had we marched since seeing 
mountains. — A little before sunset we struck the hills, and 
ascended the long slope of the first. 

It had on its surface many pebbles and round stones ; — 
the first that we had seen for six hundred miles. — On rising 
the long, high hill, we looked back, on the desert prairie be- 
hind, which, there in the vast distance spread out, brown and 
parched, reminded us of the description of the Sahara; — a 
narrow and long serpentine column of dust, from near the 
horizon to the base of the hill, showed the weary troops and 
tired wagon train, slowly coming. 

Here, on the hills, we struck again the chapparal ; — 
on the second ridge we found a rancho. — The change was 
remarkable. — In a valley near, was growing a large field of 
corn ; the trees were green, and every thing looked, up there 



284 CONTENTION FOR WATER AT NIGHT. 

in the hills, like life. — Here, too, was a well ; — but as its sup- 
ply of water was scant, the general forbade a drop of it being 
used by the cavalry, and ordered us on to another well, 
which the rancheros informed him, was seven miles dis- 
tant. — This was right ; for the thirsting infantry needed this 
water more than we did. 

(When these came up, a guard was set over the well, and 
every man received from the hands of the officer attending, 
one pint of water, measured out to him. — The well did not 
hold out at that, and the last companies received but a 
little over half a pint each, after their excessive fatigue; — 
as for supper, they needed none ; for they threw themselves 
down on the ground, anywhere, and overpowered, were soon 
asleep.) 

We, of the cavalry, arrived at the next well at dusk; — 
having made our march of forty-two miles. — We immediate- 
ly rushed there for water. — From dark until late at night, 
there was a continual crowd and quarrel for water, by the 
men; — and the horses bit and kicked one another, in their 
efforts to get their heads into the narrow trough. — The well 
was about fifteen feet deep, plenty of water in it, though 
there was but one small bucket to raise it. The men push- 
ed away one another in their eagerness to get their tin cups 
into it. 

The water was pretty good, but there was no danger of any 
one hurting himself in drinking too much; for in the rush, it 
required an hour, or more, before one could get enough. — The 
wagons of the companies came up late at night, unexpect- 
edly ; and thus we were enabled to get our suppers, and 
procure a little corn for our horses. The grass in these hills, 
although green, compared to the desert prairie, had been eaten 
ofl" short, so that there was none for them. — We found that 
^ve were ^vithin about three miles of General Patterson's 
camp, at San Fernando, and that we had made two day's 
march in one. — The town had been surrendered to him, 
during the day, by a deputation, consisting of the alcaldes 
and principal citizens, who met him near this place, where 
we were now encamped. — We found, also, that the last 
night, the Mexican leader, Canales, with three hundred 



THE VALLEY OF SAN FERNANDO. 285 

and odd horsemen, had encamped at this same place, and 
were now in the neighborhood. — On this news, every man 
of us was ordered to look to his arms, and sleep with them 
near him, which was done. — Being much fatigued, we did 
not pitch our tents, but lay down anywhere around, and 
were soon fast asleep. 

December 27th. This was a fine morning : the rising sun 
shone over the hills and valleys, and illuminated the moun- 
tains in the west. — The view was so different from that of 
level scenery, which had so long surrounded us, that all were 
pleased, in gazing upon it. — We started late. — The infantiy 
made their appearance, coming ove.r the hill-tops ; — they 
walked stiff and crippled : the feet of all were very sore. — 
Soon the white tops of the wagon train appeared in the same 
direction ; and, to the cheering sound of the bugles, we then 
moved onward, over rocky hills and deep valleys. — We pass- 
ed a large quarry of the white stone, described at Goliad ; and 
shortly came to the brow of the hill overlooking the deeper 
valley in which was the town of San Fernando; and near it 
was the camp of General Patterson. — The river, of the same 
name as the town, ran along the opposite side of the valley, 
which, there, was shut in by high, precipitous hills. — Obtain- 
ing permission from the captain, the author here left the 
lines, and remained awhile on the brow of the hill, to observe 
the magnificence of the wild and rugged scenery, on either 
side, and in front ; and the picturesque beauty of the embo- 
somed valley below. — The distant glimpses of the river, on 
the left of the front view, were caught only as it emerged 
from between high bluft' banks, to enter others again. — 
The vision, in following it, rested upon the lines of tents of 
General Patterson's camp, and the volumes of thin smoke ri- 
sing from that. — Immediately in front, at the base of the high 
hill, down which the column of troops were winding, was 
the compact town, built entirely of this white stone, with 
many deep green trees of orange, and other kinds, showing 
a pleasing contrast against the massive walls of the stone 
buildings. — The church towers were elevated above the rest. 
— The style of building — its closeness, neatness, and simi- 
larity, throughout its extent — gave to it an appearance, from 



286 SAN FERNANDO CEMETERY. 

above, different from that of a city of our manner of con- 
struction ; and it was more beautiful. 

At the foot of the hill, below, between that and the town,' 
was the cemeter}^ walled in with stone. — This was the next 
object. — We found it a fine structure, square, and with a 
lofty arched gateway. — Many stone crosses, on heavy pedes- 
tals, were on the walls, at regular intervals. On the inte- 
rior, under each of these crosses, was a niche, or space in 
the wall ; — all of these were filled with human skulls, piled 
one on the other, the eye-sockets outwards. Wherever you 
looked around, these met your eye, and presented not a plea- 
sant appearance. — In the two extreme corners, were large 
piles of leg, arm, and rib bones. — The space inside the walls 
was filled with graves and sculptured tombs ; some of these 
surmounted by light, lofty stone arches, and adorned with 
chiseled flowers and figures of saints, &c. The whole struc- 
ture was neat, ornamental, and costly. 

We proceeded on to camp, where the whole of General 
Pillow's command were already encamping, along by the 
side of General Patterson's. The area covered by the 
troops, and heavy train of five hundred wagons, Avas 
large ; and a person became tired of walking over it. — 
Many of us immediately repaired to the river beyond the 
encampment, to get water for ourselves and horses, and to 
bathe. The stream was about forty yards wide, in a deep 
ravine, with banks, in most places, rising from one hundred 
to a hundred and fifty feet, perpendicular height. — The town 
is built on the highest part of the bluff, adjoining the plain 
or valley. — The river, at this place, where accessible, was 
filled with men and horses. — The current was remarkably 
swift, and rushed over the rocks with a ceaseless noise. — 
We afterward proceeded from the river,up along the bank, into 
the town, thinking to observe a crowded population ; but 
a more lonesome looking place was not to be found. — The 
streets were entirely deserted, and the houses shut up — every 
door and window closed ; not a store open ; nor a man, wo- 
man, or child, in the streets. — One would have thought them 
all dead, but for the confused sound of voices, that came over 
the high stone walls of the court-yards. — Throughout the city 



HYPOCRISY OF ALCALDE. 287 

it was the same, for the whole day. — The inhabitants were 
filled with the utmost terror of the " Americanos ^^ and kept 
themselves within doors. — In a long walk through many 
streets, and crossing the squares, we saw not an open door, 
save one, on the corner of the plaza ; and into that, imme- 
diately, a half dozen of us entered, and found ourselves in 
the court room of the second alcalde of the town. — He was 
within : was a man of light complexion, and quite genteel 
appearance ; was seated at his large table, with his escribi- 
ente, alguacil, and other attendants, around ; — all of whom 
were excessively delighted to see us — the hypocritical scoun- 
drels ! 

One of us, Hill, who had lived in Mexico for some years, 
and understood their language well, interpreted his conversa- 
tion to the rest of us. The alcalde said that the Americans 
were a free people ; that they were noble and powerful, and 
that he loved every American like a brother ; and he finished 
by throwing his arms around our necks, and embracing us ; in 
which worthy demonstrations of friendship he was seconded 
by the escribiente, who, throwing down his pen, came for- 
ward, saying, ^'■Americanos, rnucho hueno^'' (Americans, very 
good) ; and he, too, fell to embracing us, and squeezing our 
hands ; while the worthy alguacil, or constable, followed, as 
well as another Mexican citizen who was in there, the ex- 
ample of his superiors, with much jabbered Spanish about 
Americanos. One would have been reminded of the greeting 
of new converts at the altar of a camp-meeting, by their 
expressions of joy, &c. — But this was all assumed; — these 
very men would have cut our throats gladly, had they pos- 
sessed the power. — However, the author, from them, through 
the interpreter, in answer to his inquiries, obtained much in- 
formation with regard to the town, the country, health, man- 
ners, customs, &c., and regretted not the hours he spent 
there. 

Towards sunset we left the town, only stopping to admire 
the splendid brick mansion of Don Garcia Flores, with its 
extensive court yards, fine interior, spacious, beautiful rooms, 
and large collections of the finest flowers and scented shrubs, 



288 CROSSING OF THE SAN FERNANDO. 

&c.; after admiring which, we passed on to camp, and hav- 
ing nothing else to do, lay down and slept well. 

December 28ih. This morning our regiment was divided ; 
seven companies were sent across the river, and ordered to 
proceed to the next river, twent3"-five miles, and work upon 
the banks of that, so that it could be passed by the train. 
— One other company, the "Giles Troopers," under Cap- 
tain Haynes, was sent, by General Patterson, back to Mat- 
amoras, with orders to bring on another train of wagons 
to Victoria ; a severe service, which they immediately set 
about. — They had some difficulty with the principal alcalde 
of the town, about furnishing a number of pack mules for 
the detachment, and had to force him to do it by confin- 
ing him; when he soon had them brought up. — After these 
were procured, the company started back. (We saw no 
more of them until they came up to Victoria, twelve days 
after our arrival there ; and the incidents of their march, in 
the meantime, will hereafter be related). The other two 
companies of us remained encamped. 

One regiment of the lUinoisans crossed the river, the wa- 
ter taking each man about the middle ; — they encamped on 
the high plain opposite. The long wagon train then fol- 
lowed ; — the passage of this occupied the time until three, P. 
M.; — then followed the artillery, of which there were but 
two pieces ; then the other regiment of infantry ; and just 
at night our two companies saddled up, struck our tents, and 
brought up the rear. — As we did not have to move until so 
late, we had the day to ourselves, and three of us went into 
town ; where the frightened inhabitants were beginning to 
creep out, finding they were not molested. 

We again called on our acquaintance, the alcalde. We 
found that he had with him part of the authorities of the 
town. — We were not going to disturb them ; but they in- 
sisted, with many smiles and bows, that we should come in, 
and after a little conversation in broken Spanish, helped out 
by many signs, we stopped and looked on. Hill, with an- 
other, came passing by, and seeing us, entered, and was 
received by the Mexicans, who were seated at the large 
table, with the same tokens of pleasure, (all hypocriticalj. — 



MEETING OF ALCALDES. 289 

They insisted on his taking a seat, and with many gestures 
informed him what they were about. 

In the meantime, five more Mexicans came in, all finely 
dressed in their own style, with splendid serapes. These 
were most attentive to us, and carried on a long conversa- 
tion with Hill, and told him the objects of their meeting, (no 
doubt thinking we had been sent up to watch them). There 
were the four alcaldes, or magistrates of the town ; — these 
all sat together behind the table; — in front of this, around, 
were the members of the ayuntamiento, or common council, 
the president of which was the best looking Mexican we had 
seen. 

There were not all of the members of the ayuntamiento 
present, four, as they told Hill, having left the town, with 
many of the other citizens, on the approach of the army. — 
They said that this was an informal meeting, to consider to- 
gether upon some business arising from General Patterson's 
requisition upon them that morning, for pack mules, &c., (for 
the use of Haynes' detachment). We asked them, through 
Hill, to go on with their business, which they did in an or- 
derly way ; though sometimes they appeared to be excited, 
especially the first alcalde, who had, in the morning, been 
placed in " durance vile." The four alcaldes all had their gold 
headed canes, and each of them had a dignified appearance. 
— (As these officers of justice, found in every town in Mex- 
ico, will hereafter be mentioned in this work, we will give 
a short description of their office, powers, &c.) 

There are in every town of any size, four of them ; in 
every village one at least. — They are elected by the people, 
and serve for one year. — Their office resembles much that of 
our justice of the peace, but they have more power. — They 
have jurisdiction of all cases of misdemeanor, smaller crimes 
of every description, and all debts under one hundred dollars 
— in these their decision is final, and from it there is no ap- 
peal. — They are attended, each by an alguacil, an officer like 
a constable. — He arrests every one ordered by the alcalde, 
and brings him before him. — He carries a written process, 
commanding the person to appear before the alcalde, im- 
mediately, or at such an hour. — If the person refuses to 
19 



290 METHOD OF JUSTICE BEFORE ALCALDES. 

obey the alguacil, the alcalde senda his tasselcd cane, or 
baston de justicia, by the alguacil; then the person must come, 
or be imprisoned, or fined, for contempt of his authority. — 
The alcaldes can keep a man for an indefinite time in prison, 
save upon command of the prefect, another officer, Avho is 
above them.— The alcalde, in common cases, commits nothing 
to writing, and justice is summarily dispensed (in most cases 
in his favor, who pays him a sum of money, or sends him a 
polite note, offering to lend him a sum). 

Larger cases of debt than one hundred dollars, or cases of 
murder, robbery, &c., when committed by the rich, are very 
seldom troubled much ; for the proceedings before the alcalde 
are costly, and besides that, never end. — But the Avay in which 
they are carried on, we will cite by an instance. Don A. 
owes Don B. on a certain transaction five hundred dollars, 
— will not pay it. — Don B. applies to the alcalde, who cites 
both parties, with their hpnibre bucnos (just men), or arbitrators, 
to appear before him on such a day. — All appear. Don B. 
states his case ; this is all written down in a blank-book ; his 
witnesses are examined, and their testimony is all written 
down with the statement. — Don A. is then, with his wit- 
nesses, called upon : their adverse statement is all written 
down, word for word, as it is given. — The alcalde and hombrc 
huenos then decide the case against Don A. ; but he raises an 
objection to it, and is entitled to a hearing before a higher au- 
thority. — The whole is then sealed up, and sent to the Asesor 
General., an officer somewhat like a chief justice, at the seat 
of government of the state, and the plaintiff" has to pay the 
cost. — The asesor general gets it, and after a while (some- 
times a month, sometimes twelve, and sometimes never), 
writes back to the alcalde to give judgment for Don B. (that 
is, if he took care to send to that personage a larger fee than 
did the other, but if he did not, then for Don A.) — However, 
the alcalde may receive, in the course of twelve months, an* 
order from the asesor general to decide the case in favor of 
one or the other. — That is, if there occur no revolution, 
or change in government; — but if there do, the asesor gene- 
ral is displaced, and another put in, and the complainant 
may rest assured that he will never touch the papers of 



METHOD OF JUSTICE BEFORE ALCALDES. 291 

his predecessor, without another fee. — When this order is 
received, the alcalde cites the parties before him, and informs 
them of the decision. — The unsuccessful one immedi-ately 
raises an objection, under color of law, v/hcther having 
the slightest reason or not; — the objection is written down, 
and the whole is sent off by post again ; the complainant 
again paying up, to the ascsor general, who reconsiders it, 
and pocketing the fees from both parties, sends back another 
direction, either confirming the first or annulling it, accord- 
ing to the strong reasoning before mentioned; — each one of 
these documents now adds to the papers ; these must all be 
sent back and forth each time, and they increase the postage 
(for by law, they must be' sent by the post). — The same case 
if other objections are raised by the losing party; are writ- 
ten down, and again sent back ; — and a case will not be 
decided, sometimes for twenty years ; in fact, if the parties 
continued to fee the ascsor general, new ev; and he who stops 
those fees first, loses his suit. 

Under one hundred dollars, the case depends with the al- 
calde alone ; and debts are rarely contracted above that 
amount. — The common way, with these small ones, is that 
each party selects his hombrehiLcno, and the alcalde acts as the 
third, and the case is thus decided ; and payment, then, must 
be on the spot, or the losing party must go to prison. — This 
last is the fairest way of trial among them. 

Now, having given this sketch of the alcaldes, let us see 
about their minor officers. The ^^escribicntcs,^'' or secretaries, 
are hired, and paid out of the fines accruing to the office ; 
and if these are a little behindhand, the alcalde does not 
hesitate to have men brought up, and fine them for an al- 
leged offence ; thinking, no doubt, that the payment of the 
escribiente is for the public good. — The alguacil, or constable, 
is one of the inhabitants ; who all have to serve in this of- 
fice one week each, in turn. They get nothing at all for it^ 
" and find themselves." — If there are any Mexican soldiers 
in a town, they guard the prison ; if not, the inhabitants have 
to take turns at this, too. 

These four alcaldes, spoken of, who sat here, all pos- 
sessed these powers, and, moreover, a general power of 



292 MEXICAN OFFICERS OF JUSTICE. 

police, over their actions ; acting as coroners, &c. — The rest 
of the assembly were of the ayuntamiento. A few words 
about this. There are, commonly, twelve of this body; they 
are elected by the people, at the same time of the election 
of the alcaldes — commonly in December — and serve one 
year- They attend to the town property, the aqueducts, the 
squares, and streets ; the revenues, taxes, appropriations, &c. ; 
and have exclusive supervision over the prison. They ai-e 
compelled, on requisition oi\heprefedo, to raise soldiers for the 
government (done by forcible impressment, from the poorer 
class). — It is considered quite an honor, in these towns, 
to belong to this body. — One more officer is commonl}- pla- 
ced in each town or district, but, at this time, there was none 
in San Fernando. This is the prcfcdo. — A principal one re- 
sides in the capital of the state ; other sub-prefects in every 
town and district. — It is this officer's duty to command the 
troops in that district or town ; to make requisitions on the 
ayuntamiento for more, when he is required so to do by the 
governor; to receive prisoners passing through the country; 
to obtain for foreigners their '^cartas de scguiridad,'''' or let- 
ters of protection, and also furnish them passports for trav- 
eling ; and, finally, to overlook the alcaldes in their adminis- 
tration of justice. — The principal prefect, at the seat of gov- 
ernment, has the same to do, on a larger scale. — Beside these, 
we might as well mention the governor of the state ; for he 
is the only remaining officer of note : they are the military 
commanders of the state ; responsible to no one but the pre- 
sident of the republic. — They are all appointed by the differ- 
ent presidents, that rise and fall, and rise again, in this coun- 
try; — their duration of office is, therefore, just as uncertain, 
but always short. 

We intended to have run no farther in this description, 
than to include these of the kind that were assembled here 
at San Fernando, this evening ; but as the others, like these, 
are universally the same throughout Mexico, the time of the 
reader will not be lost, in learning something else about them, 
save theii names. 

Now let us return to the group that we left. — They finish- 
•ed their consultations in an hour or two, — in which, no doubt, 



MANNER OF RIDING "DOUBLE." 293 

they considered it best to obey any requisition of the genera] 
upon them, — when they scattered ; and we returned to camp, 
and saddUng up, crossed the river, encamped with the rest 
of the army, collected a lot of musquit brush, and went to 
cooking our suppers ; after taking which, we stretched our- 
selves out under the musquit bushes, and enjoyed the scene 
of the busy camp— the crowds pouring along the road, back 
and forth, &c. 

We heard a loud laugh from scores up the road, and look- 
ing for the cause, saw several Mexicans coming through on 
horseback. On one mule was a light-complexion ed, pretty, 
round faced Mexican girl, of perhaps sixteen years old, with 
an enormous sombrero on, like a man, sitting on her steed 
straddle, one foot in each stirrup, while her hands hung un- 
employed, and displayed several pretty rings.— Her dress did 
not seem to suit her manner of riding much; certainly did 
not come as low as pantaloons would have done.— Riding 
behind her, was a lank-jawed young man, of about twenty 
years old, holding himself on with one arm round her waist, 
with the bridle-reins in that hand, while the other was em- 
ployed with the whip.— Making it appear more singular to 
our boys, he was seated behind the saddle, with both his feet 
on the left side, just as our ladies ride behind their husbands 
or brothers.— Here, from our manner, both the parties were 

reversed in position, as well as in manner of sitting.* This 

was enough for the men, who broke out in peals of laughter, 
as they came along, much to the confusion of the girl and 
her partner, who did not know what to make of it ; this way 
of riding being common enough with them. 

The evening passed away agreeably, and all lay down to 
sleep, after paying good attention to our horses, which here 
got some grass. 

Dcccndjcr 2dth. We were roused by the reveille ; the racket 
of the drums and fifes of both regiments of infantry, and our 
bugles helping out the concert, so that it was impossible to 
think of a moment's sleep after they had commenced. Fires 

* In Mexico, the general way of riding double, is, that the female rides in the sad- 
dle, but on one side ; and the man behind her, with one foot on either side.— Often, 
however, the woman rides as we saw this one. 



294 ROUGH HILLS. 

in numbers, M'ere soon seen over all the encampment, and 
shortly afterwards, the tents were down, wagons loaded, and 
before sunrise we were on the march, our company being the 
advance guard. — Passing over a small plain, we commenced 
the ascent of long, high, rocky hills, covered with a growth 
of thinly-scattered musquit bushes, and some grass between 
the rocks ; the scenery was of the boldest character, steep 
hills, very deep, rocky valleys, black, mountainous eleva- 
tions on the horizon all around, highest in front. — Here 
and there, far down in the valleys, were fertile tracts of 
land, with ranchos on them, surrounded with many orange 
trees of deep green ; and vegetation down there, from its 
lively color, contrasted strongly with the huge, rocky, bar- 
ren hills, that were thrown, as it were, promiscuously 
around, having nothing on their broad sides, save the scat- 
tered musquit, with here and there tall sword palmettos, 
rearing their round heads, visible far. — On the opposite 
spur, or mountain, in the early part of the day, were a 
body of Mexican horsemen, partially concealed by the mus- 
quit. — They were a long distance off, and could not be 
caught ; for they could see us, if we started after them, and 
before we could have reached the edge of the valley plain, 
far below us, they would have been gone, leaving, on the 
rocks and through the defiles, no trace behind. — They were 
gratified with a splendid view of our long, extended lines, 
and wagon train, slowly winding up the hill. — When we 
halted, to repair the road for the train behind, we could 
see, in the rear, over all the hills that we had passed. — 
They were below us now, and the desert section in the 
rear, again came in view beyond them. — The descent of 
all these hills had been extremely difficult. — The day's march 
throughout, was up and down these "young mountains," 
as some of the men called them, but was not near so 
fatiguing to us, nor did it appear so to the infantry, as 
the dead level of the parched prairie. — Those of that regi- 
ment that with us, two days before, had such a hard time, 
seemed entirely recovered from their lameness and fatigue, 
and jogged along, with their muskets and heavy knap- 
sacks, joking and laughing. — We noticed that many of 



CACTUS GIGANTEA. 295 

them, yesterday spent much time in bathing their feet 
in the San Fernando river, and now they appeared all 
right again. — There was no water on the route to-day, but 
every man had brought his canteen full from the river, and 
no inconvenience was experienced on that account. — At five 
P. M., we arrived at a rapid creek, or small river, with 
high, steep banks. — Here we found our other seven compa- 
nies, and now we were all together again, save Captain 
Haynes' company, which, as said before, had gone back to 
Matamoras. — We crossed the river, and encamped on the 
high bank opposite, upon the ascent of which the compa- 
nies mentioned had done much work. — The wagon train 
drew up in the rocky, dry islands of the river below, while 
some of the infantry encamped on either side of the stream ; 
— the bank on which we were, was a hundred and fifty feet, 
perhaps more, above the bed of the river. 

Some of us spent an hour or two, seated on the bluff, look- 
ing down into the busy train, where the commissaries were 
engaged in giving out the rations to the crowds in attend- 
ance, and the forage masters, also, in handing out the sacks 
of corn to the cavalry companies. — Growing on this bank 
was much of the cactus gigantea, {sec plate, page 357), and 
much of the wild maguey plant ; {see plate,* page 878). This 
species of cactus grows in fluted columns, straight, with the 
ridges covered with bunches of thorns, which are large, strong 
and sharp. The columns are of a similar consistence and 
color to the prickly pear, but the old ones have a woody core. 
— They grow from twelve to eighteen feet high, each one from 
five to seven inches thick. — The men cut down many with 
their sabres, which, from their peculiar consistence, could be 
done with a single blow. One man, however, was severely 
hurt by a large and heavy one, that, as he cut it, fell over 
upon him, driving fifty or more of the strong thorns through 
his clothing into his shoulder and arm, where each remained 
fixed firmly, and were difficult to pull out. 

We came now to several more species of this cactus, all 
with needle-like thorns ; — one kind was three-cornered, and 

* That plate represents the cultivated maguey This that grows wild upon the 

mountain side is of the same appearance, but only about half as large. 



296 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CACTUS. 

grew tall ; another grew like large turnips out of the ground, 
and these were dangerous even for a horse to step on ; an- 
other, smaller, grew like a potato, and was covered on the 
outside by a net work, if we may so express it, of slender, 
delicate thorns , and there were numbers of other varieties. 
But the kind most troublesome to us, was a species that 
grew like a bush, about three feet high ; so little, at first 
sight, did it resemble anything of the cactus kind, that many 
of us got into it to our sorrow ; — its small stems were nu- 
merous and crooked ; these covered with millions of little 
thorns, each one about a quarter of an inch in length, 
and finer than a hair; — sharp, barbed, strong ; — easily enter- 
ing, and hard to get out. — These little thorns covered the 
stems, and, on the slightest touch with the person, remained 
in the flesh. Beside the little fellows, the same plant bore 
at intervals on its stalk, hundreds of larger ones, each about 
an inch in length, and growing in slight sheaths, to pro- 
tect them. 

We would not have believed that any thorns could grow 
quite so sharp as these did ; for no point of the finest needle 
entered the flesh so easily, or continued to penetrate with 
so slight a touch. — It seemed as though they would insinu- 
ate themselves deeper and deeper, with no force to push 
them in ; — but on endeavoring to draw one out, the strongest 
resistance was experienced ; the flesh rose and hung around 
to them. Several of them, well in, made a serious job to ex- 
tricate. 

In connexion with the thorny musquit, and a species of 
flag covered with cat-claw briers, and the grass with keen 
burs, we had these diflerent varieties of the cactus, of all 
sizes and shapes, from this time, through our whole future 
march in Mexico ; sometimes only thinly scattered about, 
then again so close that it was found difficult to get a place 
clear enough on which to encamp. — So the reader will please 
bear in mind, as a constant accompaniment to the future 
marches, a full supply of crowded prickly pears, of tall, 
short, round, every shape, of needle-covered cactus; of trees 
and bushes, all thorny; of weeds and grass covered with the 
same ; so that whenever any one left the road, into these 



SKILL IN REMOVING OBSTACLES ON ROAD. 297 

thickets, whether for scouting, hunting, or failure of the plain 
track, he had enough to do, each moment, to save his flesh. 
We now saw why these rancheros dressed in buckskin; — 
nothing else will stand these thorns.* The feeding and sad- 
dling of our horses, in the morning before day, was to us 
the time for getting thousands of them into us. — The wil- 
derness of rocky hills, or small mountains, over which our 
road had led for the day, had been covered thickly with this 
growth. — Distance marched, twenty-five miles. 

December 30th. The reveille roused us before day, and by 
light we were again on the road. After proceeding over the 
hills and rocky valleys about five miles, the whole division 
was obliged to halt for an hour, at a deep ravine, impassable 
for the train. The sappers and miners — a splendid company 
of regulars — were ordered up ; and, wdth a detachment ol 
infantry and dismounted cavalry, with pickaxes, crowbars, 
shovels, &c., the ravine was cut down and made passable in 
a little while, and we all went down into it.f — It was a rough, 
dark looking, narrow chasm, with the jutting rocks, in some 
places, coming near each other above. It appeared as if, 
sometimes, the whole chasm was filled with rushing water, 
from the cleanliness of the dark rocks, on sides and bottom, 
swept by its force. — No water was in there now, however, 
save a beautiful spring that bubbled up, clear and copious, 
from under the projecting front of a massive rock. — This 
spring, to which we hastened, was, to our disappointment, of 



* It is customary, in the country, for Mexicans, when riding, to have a kind of false 
pantaloons, which buckle round the waist and go over each leg : these are made of 
goat skin, and have the hair on ; they are sufficiently stout to withstand the penetra- 
tion of the thorns ; — they are called armor de pelo, (covering of hair), and when not 
used, hang to the saddle, in front of the leg, (see plate, page 368.) 

•j- It was interesting, on this rough march, to see the ease and quickness with which 
the most formidable obstacles were removed, and the road made practicable for the ar- 
tillery and wagons, by the united efforts of science, skill and labor. — The company of 
sappers and miners followed the advance of cavalry ; — these last could wind their way 
along. The bugler of the sappers had a set of signals, which could be heard a mile, 
and by which, in those difficult roads, the movements of the army were directed. — The 
officer of the sappers came to an obstacle : a huge rock in the road, an impassable ra- 
vine, or other impediment. — At a signal from him, the bugler sounded the halt, by a 
peculiar set of half a dozen notes The cavalry ahead drew up their horses; the ar- 
tillery behind stopped ; the wagon train closed up, and did the same ; the infantry 



298 CHANGES OF MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 

SO strong a mineral taste as not to be drinkable, and we left 
still thirsty ; while hundreds of the infantry came rushing 
down the ravine, to get to it, — but they as soon left. 

We continued our course, all the day, over these rugged 
mountains, with the road, in many places, extremely bad. — 
The views and changes of scene were innumerable, but all 
of nature's wildest work. To our right, rose another higher 
range of mountains, which were at just such distance as to 
render their whole outlines, in their thousand forms, distinct 
to the eye. These, with the appearance of their precipices, 
high, heads, and extended direction, were most imposing. — 
The range ran to the south-west — the course that we were 
traveling. 

The sun to-day, although the 30th of December, was very 
hot. — All gladly sought the shade of the musquit bushes, 
every time the bugles of the sappers sounded a halt. — At 
four, P. M., to our great joy, we crossed the last summit of 
this collection, and saw, down before us, as pretty a valley, 
— or, rather, circular plain, — embosomed by the rugged moun- 
tains, as one could imagine ; — it was green, in appearance ; 
and a winding branch, that looked like a silver thread, pass- 
ed through it. — We went down into it : the soil was good, 
and the road level. A half mile brought us to the brook, 
in which we found plenty of good water. It was soon 
filled, far up and down, by our cavalry, together with the in- 
fantry ; the horses drinking, the men dipping in their tin 
Gups, and filling their emptied canteens ; while the artil- 

sat down on the road, just where they heard the sound ; — and the body of men, un- 
der the direction of the sappers, removed the rock, filled up the ravine, or placed a 
bridge across it, (where material could be procured,) under the supervision of the ofii- 
cers. These knew their business so well, and gave their directions so plainly, and 
they were followed with such quickness and union of effort, that the obstacle was re- 
moved ; the hill dug down, the ravine filled up, or the bridge strongly made, in less 
time than would, at home, be consumed in the preliminary consultation as to the man- 
ner of commencing the work — It looked like magic ; and it was the magical effect of 
knowledge, combined with connecled labor. — The obstacles removed, the buglers of the 
sappers sounded the advance : tlie cavalry proceeded on ; the artillery commenced the 
crossing ; the infantry jumped to their feet, and places ; the long train started, and 
the whole body were in motion, until again they were stopped by other obstacles. — 
These were many, as the road was only a mule track over the rugged mountains. 



BEAUTIFUL VALLEY. 299 

■ lerymen and teamsters were carrying buckets of it to their 
horses. — It v^as a beautiful spot : for all along its banks was 
tall green grass, with purple and yellow wild flowers. — We 
remained halted an hour, until all had watered.— The sun 
was then sinking behind the range of mountains on the 
west, throwing their distinct outlines in relief against 
the evening sky. — The air became pleasant, and all being 
.rested and refreshed, the army moved on over the plain : on 
the surface of this, here and there, were springs that came 
•up from the earth, and w^andered off in rivulets ; one of 
which was, for a mile or two, along the side of the road. — 
At sunset, the cavalry advance had crossed the plain, and 
were ordered to encamp on the slope of a gentle hill, where 
was a rancho of fifteen or twenty houses. — The infantry 
encamped on the plain below. — The artillery came up near 
the cavalry, while the extended wagon train closed its long 
line into four or five parallel ones, near to the regiments of 
infantry. — All these were convenient to water ; for, from a 
large spring or basin, of twenty feet in diameter, it gushed 
out of the hill, near to the cavalry, and flowed down in a 
pretty brook by them. — The houses of the rancho were dis- 
posed around, leaving a large square, of several acres ; — in 
the centre of this, was the basin. — This the people had par- 
tially walled up with flagstones. — Only one inconvenience 
arose to the cavalry — which was from the quantity, height, 
and size of the prickly pear, about their camp. 

December ^\st. The last day of the year, and it was hot 
enough for August. — As before, we \vere roused by the re- 
veille, long before light; and we stumbled about in the dark- 
ness, among the prickly pear, to feed our horses, with the 
corn which each man had bought for himself, at the rancho 
last night. — Every step from the tent brought us in contact 
with the prickly pear, that rose above our heads, or with some 
other cactus ; — and many bitter oaths in that thicket, ^veve 
loudly given, that morning. — The fires were soon kindled, 
and, as we had fresh beef served out to us the night before, 
we had first-rate steaks, broiled on the coals, for our hasty 
breakfast ; which, however, would have been much better, 
had we possessed a little salt to sprinkle over them. — From 



300 appetitp: for coffee. 

the want of water during the day, every one had now got 
into the habit, which they continued after, of taking in the 
morning, large draughts of coftee. 

That same deUcate young man, who, with his hair nicely 
brushed, his face smoothly shaven, his broadcloth black coat^ 
glossy, without a particle of lint upon it, and his boots highly 
polished, had often, at home, made his appearance at the 
breakfast-table, as late as eight o'clock ; and who, during a 
slight meal, when asked by the landlady, "Will you take 
another cup of coftee, sir?" had replied, "No, madam, I 
never take but one cup ; I think a free use of coffee inju- 
rious to health," — now might be seen, by the glaring light of 
the camp-fire before the tent, before day, to come out, and 
straighten himself and rub his eyes ; — dressed precisely as he 
had been the day before, for not an article of clothing, not 
even his boots, had been taken off — nothing, save his spurs, 
and they would not have been, if his next comrade had not 
cursed about his having them on when he lay down ; and 
that dress bad enough, any way ; with a bushy beard, that 
had not seen a razor in three months. — He yawns, and the 
first thing that strikes his attention is the coftee-pot, which 
his messmate, whose turn it is to cook for the day, is put- 
ting on the hot fire. " Bill, how much coftee have you got 
in there ? d — n m}'^ soul, if I got half enough, when Jim 
cooked, yesterday ! " A voice comes from the inside of the 
tent — it is Jim's : " You got your tin cup twice full, John, 

and it was strong as d— n n, at that." — " Well, my cup 

is small," replied the first. — " Small ! it holds over a pint," 
says Jim. — " Never mind," says Bill, over the fire, " I shall 
have enough for you, presently ; for the pot is full of water, 
and I put my cup nearly full of pounded coffee into it." 

Breakfast was over, the camp all deserted, and the army 
was on its march, still towards the everlasting south-west. 
Many of the men of our regiment, after a half-serious con- 
sultation on this course, a few days before, concluded, from 
their continuous march in this direction, that the world was 
much longer on this course than any other way ! — The morn- 
ing was very fine, and the road good. — Leaving the moun- 
tains on our right and left, we came out on a high plain, over 



EXTENSIVE PLAINS. 301 

the surface of which were scattered sword pahnettos, cactus 
of various kinds, and wild maguey ; which latter, continually 
struck our attention, the leaves being so large, thick, and 
strong. — The chain of mountains on the right, continued as 
before ; offering to the view, illumined by the morning sun, 
any number of slowly changing aspects. — Ten miles distance 
brought us to the brow of a high, precipitous descent, falling 
ofi^ on a wider plain below, over which the vision extended for 
many miles to the north-west, west, south-west, and south ; 
the M"hole, seeming, in the distance, to be locked in by high 
mountains of every form of swell. In the front, six miles 
distant, was the town of Santander, shoMdng plainly, its 
white surfaces of beautiful buildings and towers. — Although 
so far off, still, from the magnitude, height, and distance of 
the mountains behind, it appeared almost in the fore-ground 
of the view. The whole plain appeared like a vast map 
spread out below. 

A halt being here commanded, for the infantry and wagon 
train to come up — the advance having, on the good road, got 
much ahead of them — all of us had full leisure to survey the 
scene. After a while they came up, and the descent was 
commenced. The troops found no trouble in getting down 
to the lower plain, but the train descended with great diffi- 
culty ; it was near night when all were down. The road 
then was excellent on to the town, which, leaving a little to 
the left, the troops in advance (not waiting for the train 
and rear), passed on to the Santander river, crossed it, and 
encamped upon the opposite bank, on a level area, in a 
good situation. — ^Near the camp was an old dam, of stone, 
thrown across the river, of great size and excellent workman- 
ship ; as perfect now, after the water had been beating upon 
and rushing over it, for over one hundred years (as the citi- 
zens of the town informed us), as Mdien it was first built. 

A pretty cascade of water was continually pouring over 
it, and dashing on the stone foundation, about twelve feet 
below ; — it rushed off this broad platform of rock, into a 
deep, clear, and pretty basin, with pebbly bottom and grassy 
banks. — Into this basin, on account of the heat of the day 
-and dust of the march, scores of the men immediately went 



302 * ANCIENT DAM. 

to bathe, for which purpose no place could be prettier.— 
It was the bathing place of all the senoritas of the town, who, 
every evening, had resorted there ; (for the Mexican women 
have about the same partiality for water as is shown by a 
brood of young ducks when first they waddle towards a 
pond*), and not caring mach for the presence of the " sterner 
sex ; " thinking no harm, for custom makes all things right. 
Above the dam, the water lay in a still sheet, stretching back 
for a long distance. Its color, where deep, was of a light 
sky blue ; and this, together with the orange and other trees 
of bright green, many of which trailed their branches in the 
water ; and the running vines, with many yellow flowers 
above, climbing upon them and overhanging the basin, made 
the whole a pretty scene, and appearing better still when 
visited upon the conclusion of as hot a day as this had been. 
Many of us walked up to the town ; — like all others, Mexi- 
can, it had its stone, close buildings, with interior courts. — 
Many gardens, however, ornamented the place, and in their 
flourishing state, added a freshness to it. There was no dust, 
and all was quiet and pleasant in the streets. (It was neg- 
lected to be mentioned that we had left the strong winds and 
dust of the coast, upon leaving the prairie on the " long day's 
march," the day previous to our arrival at San Fernando.) 

Many of the inhabitants, like those of San Fernando, were 
distrustful of us, and kept themselves within doors. — Those 
of the better class were free in their intercourse, and treated 
all of us who went in there with attention and respect, but 
only through fear. A deputation, consisting of the alcaldes, 
president of the ayuntamiento, and several of the members 
of that body, had met General Patterson at the head of the 
army, a short distance from the descent of the hill mentioned, 

* The higher classes of the Mexican women liave private bathing places ; but all 
the others bathe in the rivers. Although so fond of bathing, all have singular repug- 
nance to washing their faces in the manner that we do ; — in fact, never doing it ; — 
they think it unhealthy. If the face is to be cleansed, they do it with a cloth slightly- 
dampened. — W^hen bathing, even, many will not immerse their faces in the water, or 
wet their faces or hair with the cool liquid, although some then do, but at no other 
time. — This bathing is followed the whole year. The men, although fond of it, yet 
bathe not so often as the women ; — yet, in spite of all this bathing, the lower classer 
are a dirty set in their clothing, persons and houses. 



OLD PALACE AT SANTANDER. 303 

and with much ceremony, had surrendered their town to him, 
and asked protection for themselves. Their address was in- 
terpreted to the generals, who, in return, promised this, and 
made other remarks, to the eflect that the armies of the Uni- 
ted States came not to fight private citizens, but against 
their unjust rulers, &c., &c. 

This was interpreted to the deputation, and the first al- 
calde replied, disavowing the acts of Paredes and Santa 
Anna, and professing friendship to the " United States of the 
north," as they termed our country, (all hypocritical) ; and 
then returned to their town, in advance of the army, to quiet 
the apprehensions of their citizens. 

There were many things in this town to attract our atten- 
tion. — The church was on the public plaza ; was a fine build- 
ing of stone, with its due proportion of heavy bells, &c. — 
Around the plaza, too, were several fine buildings of the same 
material ; of which, in fact, the whole town was built, like 
San Fernando. The stone is the same ; — called in Mexico, 
hmastate. 

But the object of most interest in this town of Santander, 
was the old palace of the Condc de Saragordc, the former go- 
vernor of this whole northern section of Mexico, in times long 
ago. The count, the alcalde of the town informed us, built this 
palace in the years 1734-35 ; and about the same time con- 
structed the dam spoken of, to divert the water from the river, 
along a narrow canal, to the town and lands in the vicinit3^ 
He also built the church ; and not only founded this town, but 
also that of San Fernando, through which we had previously 
passed. 

The palace, now old, and the interior somewhat dilapida- 
ted, is a noble edifice, about two hundred and fil'ty feet square, 
with a court in the centre. It is of two stories ; — ascending 
from the court yard within are three spacious flights of stone 
steps, leading to the lofty upper piazza, with its numerous 
massive doric pillars of stone ; the floors above are of 
polished stone ; the roof of the same durable material ; — 
the quantity of sculpture is splendidly' executed. At the 
head of the principal stairway, the coat of arms of the 
count, based upon the arms of Spain, stand out in bold 



304 THE NEW YEAR. 

relief, undefaced and uninjured. — Bass reliefs of stone abound 
in all the numerous apartments. — No one now resides at the 
palace ; — it stands almost imperishable, a memento of for- 
mer times. — After finishing our observation of the town of 
Santander, we returned to camp. 

This evening our regiment was reviewed by the colonel, 
in order to make out the pay-roll for the last two months. — 
In this review, the condition of our horses was minutely in- 
quired into, and report made of the same. — Nearly all had 
American horses ; but those who had lost theirs, had been 
obliged to furnish themselves with Mexican animals : — these 
stood not so high, in the opinion of our generals, as the 
others . 

After the review, a Mexican arrived in camp from Victoria, 
ahead. — He bore a dispatch from General Quitman to Gen. 
Patterson, containing the information that the former had ta- 
ken Victoria, the ]\Iexican army falling back at his approach, 
in the mountains towards Tula. This news put an end to 
the anticipations by our men, of a brush with the enemy 
there, much to their disappointment. — March of the day, six- 
teen miles. 

January 1st, 1847. The new year ushered itself in last 
night, in a manner not agreeable to us poor mortals, who 
had just witnessed the close of its predecessor, which had left 
us in so different a situation from that in which it found us at 
its commencement. We had been musing and conversing 
on this during the pleasant moonlight evening, and had set 
up late, so engaged. As usual in such pleasant weather, 
most preferred to sleep in the open air, rather than in the 
tents. 

At midnight the new year came in, accompanied with a 
most violent and sudden norther ; which blew the tents 
down, ripping and tearing them ; whistling, rushing, and 
withal, " kicking up such a dust," that we knew not what 
to make of the sudden visit. — It became so cold that we 
were chilled through under its influence. The rest of the 
night was cold, windy, and uncomfortable. — We were not 
on the march until after sunrise, on account of some of the 
last wagons of the train not having been able to cross the 



EXCELLENT WELL AT RANCHO. 305 

river last night, so long a time being occupied in descending 
the steep hill six miles back. 

The march of this day was over a barren country, exceed- 
ingly rocky in many places ; large ledges of the tunastate, 
or white soft building stone, cropped out on the surface, 
ready split by nature, by parallel fissures, into blocks of con- 
venient size for building. We passed no fertile valleys, or 
any habitation, during the day ; the road was over rocky, 
broken hills, and through ravines, covered with a thin growth 
of musquit, some cactus of various kinds, with here and there 
a stunted tree of lignum vitse. — This last has small, round 
leaves, of a deep green color ; — the quality of its wood, every 
one knows. 

At three, P. M., after a march of eighteen miles, the ad- 
vance arrived at a rancho, and near it, came to one of the best 
wells we ever saw, fixed in the best manner for watering a 
large number of horses, or other animals, at once. It was 
about ten feet square, and eighteen feet deep ; \vas walled 
up wdth stone and cement ; had a large square platform 
about twenty feet on each side, of the same material, raised 
four feet in height ; — on this was a wheel and shaft, for rais- 
ing the water. On one side of this platform was, also, a 
large stone cemented reservoir, or bathing basin, smooth, and 
well finished, twelve feet square, and four feet deep. From 
the side of the platform on which this basin was, a high ce- 
mented stone W' all ran off about a hundred and twenty feet ; 
on either side of this wall was a long trough of the same, for 
the whole length, and the ground adjoining, for fifteen feet 
on either side, w^as paved with large flag stones, to prevent 
the formation of mud. The water ran from the bathing 
basin, into which it was raised by the wheel, along stone 
spouts, into the troughs. The whole, here in this wilderness, 
surpassed anything of the kind that can be found in the 
United States. 

We learned that this is a stopping place for all the Mexi- 
can troops marching through this section, and for all bodies 
of traders, or " arricros,^'' with their droves of pack mules. — 
The well afforded an abundant supply of water for the men 
and horses of the whole division ; and one can readil}' sup- 
20 



306 CONVENIENCES FOR WATERING. 

pose that to furnish two thousand men, and more horses, 
after the day's march, would require much. 

Wood for fires was scarce, and one of the wagoners pulled 
up two or three of the little crooked stakes of the musquit, 
driven down by the low trough to keep the mules from paw- 
ing it, which, however, were almost all gone long ago ; — of 
the few that remained, this man pulled up four, each about 
two feet long, and half rotten. General Patterson saw him, 
and had him tied to his wagon wheel, close to the well, for 
the view of the whole army, as they, in continued numbers, 
came for water. — He remained thus tied with a strong rope, 
until night; — how much longer, "deponent saith not," not 
knowing. — To such length do they carry " protection to the 
Mexicans." 

This well, we were informed, was thus built up in 1828; it 
had remained uninjured eighteen years; and, from the solidity 
of its construction, will remain hundreds more, unless forcibly 
destroyed. — These Mexicans are singular people in many of 
their ways and actions. — If they do anything with regard to 
water, it is done not only for the present generation, but for 
many succeeding ones. — If they build a dam, to divert water, 
like that at Santander, which is as good now, as it was one 
hundred and eighteen years ago, they build it to endure for 
ages. — If they fix a well, like this, in strong stone and stronger 
cement, it bids defiance to the destroying hand of time, for gen- 
eration after generation. — If they undertake a bridge, its lofty 
stone arches are not made in the light manner of those few 
seen in our country, but are so large, so strong, and have foun- 
dations so firm, that centuries hence, they will be as perfect as 
at present; a bridge that they finish, needs no repair for ages, 
for there is nothing destructible, or that can change in them. 
(As will be mentioned hereafter, of the bridges on the road 
from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico.) If they attempt an 
aqueduct (like that in the city of Vera Cruz, which conducts 
the water now as copiously and as pure as it did in 1725, 
when it was finished), it needs no repairs, no alterations, no 
meddling with it in any way for centuries ; it works as freely 
for the old man eighty years of age, as it did for his father ; 
and the same old man can see no difference in the appear- 



MEXICAN BRIDGES, AQUEDUCTS, AND WELLS, 307 

ance of the bridge over which he totters in his age, from its 
state when he ran and frolicked over it in his youth ; and 
which, in the mean time, has had upon it not a repairing 
hand. — If these people cannot do these things in that man- 
ner, they will not do them at all. — But to return to our en- 
campment. As said before, there was a rancho here, but it 
contained only three rough houses ; like the rest of the 
ranchos that we have met since we left Matamoras, they 
were made of crooked musquit poles, set to one another in 
the ground, covered with straw, without floor, chimney, or 
windows {see plate ^ page 378). — The beef contractors procured 
from the owner of them, several fine beeves, for the use of 
the army. 

January 2d. This morning, our company, being the ad- 
vance for the day, were early roused; we got our breakfasts, 
saddled up, and were on the road before day ; we were fol- 
lowed closely, by the sappers and miners, by whose bugles, 
as before described, our movements were governed. — The 
road, to-day, was very difficult, being but a mule track, over 
the "young mountains," extremely stony, and with much 
more ascent and descent than had been made on the day pre- 
vious. — So many flat rocks lay piled over the vast hills, that 
musquit, cactus, or hardly a tuft of grass could find a footing. 
— At noon we reached the hacienda of San Antonio, and 
the finest house was being built here, that so far, we had 
seen in Mexico. — A considerable number of the rude houses 
of the peones were around it. — The valley in which this was, 
was free from stone, and apparently fertile. 

After a short halt at the house, we proceeded down to the 
bank of a small river, wdth very high and steep banks, 
"upon which were some large cypresses, as large as any in 
our ov/n country. These attracted our attention, being the 
first large trees that we had seen for eight or nine hundred 
miles. — We crossed the stream, and ascended the other bank, 
which was very difficult, and, as much trouble and delay was 
expected, in crossing the train, we of the advance, were 
ordered to proceed on the road half a mile, and place out 
scouts for observation ; this was done by our taking position, 
in the musquit timber ; and our horses, for the first day in 



308 k CROSSING OF THE SAN ANTONIO- 

many, found plenty of grass. — It took the rest of the day to 
cross the army and company wagons ; but few of the train 
wagons coming over ; the rest, and the rear guard encamped 
•on the other side. — On account of this delay, the march of 
the day was but about nine miles. 

JaniLary Sd. Last night our company had a busy time. — 
Hardly had its wagon arrived, and the men began to get their 
suppers, than an order came for the whole company to stand 
guard for the night, and to go on post immediately. — Most 
of the men were forced to go without any supper, or to get 
it during the night, when off post, as they could. — We were 
withdrawn from guard, and ordered to saddle up, this morn- 
ing before day, but did not start for an hour or more. 

Last night the troops were all busy until late — many in as- 
sisting the wagon train across the San Antonio, and up the 
steep bank on this side, which, at the least calculation, was 
one hundred feet high ; and the elevation, on one part of it, 
was near forty-five degrees. — It was severe pulling, even 
with double teams, and the assistance of many on foot. 

This morning, leaving the remainder of the train to come 
over the river, protected by the rear-guard, and assisted by 
-a proper force, the part of the army that was already over, 
were on the march at an early hour, proceeding towards the 
town of Padilla, {Pah-dhe-yah,) only three miles from the 
San xintonio. The road was excellent — the land good. — We 
were then in the narrow fork between the San Antonio river 
on the north, and the Padilla river, a larger stream, on the 
south. While crossing this level tract, we suddenly met the 
prefect, alcaldes, and the other civil authorities of the town 
of Padilla, coming out, in a dashing cavalcade, vto surrender 
their town to the general. We turned a little from the 
road, by order of the officer, to allow them to pass down 
towards the general. This little act of courtesy seemed to 
surprise the Mexicans, who acknowledged it by low bows to 
the officer and column ; — they went on, and met the gen- 
eral. — The army was halted, and the surrender made ; and, 
in company with them, the general and his staff came up, 
while we opened to the right and left, to let them pass. 
— The countenances of the Mexicans then, had a different 



CROSSING OF THE PADILLA RIVER. 309 

appearance than that they wore when, a few moments be- 
fore, they had passed along. As we of the advance were now 
near the river and the town, the general and his staff went 
with the Mexicans directly over, thus having an opportunity 
to enjoy their hospitality, before we came up. It was not, 
however, a wise movement for the general to leave his army, 
even for a mile, to go into a town ahead, with only his staff 
accompanying him. 

We now came to the river, on the southern bank of which 
was the town. It was as pretty a stream as one could 
wish to see : broad, of water clear, of current very swift, 
and pebbly bottom, and each bank fringed with tall cypress 
trees. — The water was about waist deep, and cold. — We 
crossed well enough ; but when the infantry came, with them 
a scene of fun and boisterous mirth took place, as was al- 
ways the case when a river was to be forded. Some stop- 
ped and took off their pantaloons, and held them above their 
heads, when wading ; but the most, captains and lieutenants 
as well as men, started not a thing ; but the latter, holding 
their cartridge-boxes, knapsacks, haversacks and muskets, 
above their heads, took the water, with the same step as be- 
fore, and with no delay ; — wading to their waists, stemming 
the strong current ; while the whole multitude were laugh- 
ing and yelling, splashing, and floundering along. — Arrived 
on the pebbly shore of the other side, they dropped their 
knapsacks, cartridge-boxes, and haversacks, to their places, 
and after halting a few moments, and fiUing their canteens, 
fell into column again, and marched on, as contented as 
though they had been dry. — The wagons which had crossed 
the San Antonio, found no delay in passing over this second 
river. — Leaving the bank of this last, just as the sun was 
rising, we proceeded into the town, where the inhabitants 
did not seem to possess the feelings of apprehension of in- 
jury, that we had noticed at San Fernando and Santander; 
being out in crowds to look at us. — The first thing that took 
our attention, was the number of large orange groves on 
either side of us ; — most beautiful trees they were : of large 
size, deep green leaves, and regular, close appearance ; cov- 
ered with fruit — some ripe, and some green. — So many large 



310 TOWN OF PADILLA. 

■oranges were ripe, on some of them, that they gave to the 
trees a golden appearance, as the rays of the rising sun shone 
upon them. — The blossoms filled the air with their delightful 
fragrance. (These blossoms are small and white ; — they do 
not strike the eye with much beauty, but are of great fra- 
grance.) — We purchased quantities of this fine fruit for a 
trifle ; and it was universally remarked, that it was of better 
quality than any we had ever tasted before — being large, 
sweet, and juicy. 

The morning was quite cool, and the crowds of peones 
and others that gazed at us, had their horongos muffled up 
^bout their necks and chins. — We proceeded on to the plaza; 
this was large, but the buildings around it showed rather 
what they once were, than anything attractive in their pres- 
ent appearance. Many of them were falling in ruins ; — all 
looked old and blackened w^ith time. 

It was in this plaza that the emperor, Iturbide, the fii-st 
and last that Mexico, since the conquest by Cortez, has had, 
was shot, after he had landed on the coast near here, to en- 
deavor to regain his throne. He fell here on the evening 
of July 19th, 1824, receiving at the fatal volley, two balls in 
his head, and two in his heart. The spot where he knelt 
and died is pointed out by the inhabitants ; who, together 
with the whole of the Mexican nation, now almost worship 
his memory; and certain it is, that if he had. regained his 
throne, the nation would have been in a far better condition 
than it is at present.* 

* As both the hfe and death of Iturbide are so intimately connected in their effects 
upon Mexico, as she has been since that time, a short account of that hfe, and the 
revolution in Mexico, in which he acted so conspicuous a po; *, cannot fail of being 
interesting to the reader. Many persons, when reading of the Mexican revolution, 
and her subsequent independence, suppose it similar, in grounds and in action, as well 
as in effect, to that by which our own country became free from British tyranny. 
— But these persons are entirely mistaken. — The revolution in Mexico was not com- 
menced on such grounds as those which animated our forefathers to rebel against the 
continued oppression of the English government; — neither was it carried on with that 
ardor of spirit and determination, in its actors and leaders, to accomplish good for 
their country, and establish a free and independent government, that stimulated the 
patriots of our own land. — Nor has the revolution in Mexico been productive of anything 
jesembling the glorious effects of that of the United States, in raising, as it were, in a 



SPIRITUOUS LIQUOR— MUSCAL. 311 

Leaving the town of Padilla, we marched out over barren, 
musquit covered, rocky hills, a mile or two, and halted for 
about three hours, until joined by the remainder of the train, 
and the rear-guard had come up to the Padilla river. — The 
bugles then sounded, the general came up, and we moved 
ahead. — During the long halt there, many of the men got 
freely under the influence of a spirituous liquor which was 
new to us : the Mexicans called it muscal. It was colorless, 
and nearly strong as alcohol. — They sold it freely in Padilla, 
at a dollar a quart ; and that quantity was enough to intox- 
icate twenty men. — It is distilled from the wild maguey 
plant, and has a singular, fiery, smoky taste, and a flavor, as 

day, a nation of freedom and happiness among the powers of the earth, respected 
by all. 

The revolution in Mexico was began rather on account of the change of kings in 
Spain, than for any grievances that the Mexicans had to complain of. It was carried 
on as a system of plunder of the government property, and a kind of legal robbery, by 
the insurgent chiefs ; who, acting without concert with one another, and responsible 
to no one, were no more nor less than captains of large bands of robbers ; neither did 
they scruple openly, to act the robber in their attacks upon the inhabitants of the coun- 
try, as well as on the king's troops. — More for plunder and personal advancement of 
the leaders, (with only one or two honorable exceptions), than for the independence 
of the country, was the war protracted from 1810 till 1821. It was finally accom- 
plished by the treachery of a government officer, Iturbide, who had been intrusted 
with the command of its army ; this he did for his own advancement ; and 
finally lost his life in consequence. — After Mexican independence had by this means 
been accomplished, what, since, has been the result? — A host of adventurers, with 
Santa Anna at their head, have been striving on the arena for personal power, and 
for the greatest proportion of the spoils ; while the nation has, under the alternate 
domination of these, gone backward at a rapid rate. — Her commerce, once a little, 
now is none ; her agriculture, always rude, yet, under the Spanish government, was 
such that the sum of her exports amounted to a considerable revenue to her, yearly. — 
Now her exports of all productions are scarcely one-third as large as they were forty 
years ago. — Then her nxmy- filled the world with wealth ; now the most valuable of 
them are useless, their shaj^ filled with water, their miners dispersed, their machinery 
destroyed. — She is a reproach to the name of Republic. — Her government and system 
changes continually, and the only thing which remains untouched, are her old Span- 
ish civil laws, under which, as before, the people are placed ; — never having had time, 
in their civil wars, to form a code of republican laws ; or having time, have had no wish 
to do it. The nation is far worse ofl'than before the revolution ; still tending downward 
every year. — The people now are in a station for which they are entirely unfit. — Wri- 
ters may expatiate on the probabilities of the republic of Mexico rising to a station of 
power and respectability among other nations ; but that is impossible ; to do it, she 
must have other customs, other manners, other laws, other institutions, and in fact, an- 
other people. Her people are not capable of governing themselves, and never will 



312 BARREN HILLS. 

some remarked at the time, more like green tobacco than 
anything else. — (We got plenty of this muscal after this ; 
and a description of its manufactm-e will hereafter be given, 
with that of the other spirituous liquors that the Mexicans 
HQQ — see page 402). — Our march now, for about ten miles 
farther, lay over the same small, stony hills, all barren and 
desblate. — About one o'clock we left these, and came down 
upon rolling, fertile lands, with but little grov/th of musquit. 
— Two or three miles over this land, brought us to the Rio 
Corona, or Crown river ; running, like the San Antonio and 
Padilla rivers, an eastwardly direction, and all discharging 
their waters below, into the Santander ; which, near the coast, 

be. — A monarchy is the only form of government under which the nation can exist 

with any prosperity We are apt to judge them by ourselves ; no judgment can be 

more fallacious. 

When a monarch is upon the throne of Mexico, and enforces obedience to whole- 
some laws, then, and then only, will the country be ftee from the ravages of continued 
civil war by partisan leaders, and an ignorant, discontented populace ; leaders who 
only wish their own aggrandizement, and a populace who join in every new revolu- 
tion — they know not why. 

If Iturbide had not turned against the Spanish government, and accomplished this 
revolution, for a people incapable of accomplishing it for themselves ; or, if he had 
succeeded in keeping his position on the throne of Mexico, to which he was elevated ; 
or if he had been able to have regained that power, and ruled the people again as 
emperor, then the condition of Mexico would have been far different from what it is 
at present. 

The death of Iturbide was a most unfortunate event for the nation of Mexico. — 
But, reader, we will not weary your patience, but give at once a brief notice of the life 
of Iturbide, whose name is now held by all the nation of Mexico in the highest regard. 
— Iturbide was a native Mexican, born in the city of Valadolid. He entered the army 
early in life, and was a Ueutenant in the Spanish service in 1810, when the revolu- 
tion was commenced by Hidalgo ; — he fought bravely against him and the other in- 
surgent leaders, (robbers would be a more appropriate term), and with great success. 
He retired from command in 1816, and lived a private life for four years, during 
which time the revolutionary movement had been nearly put down, and the only 
honest leader in it. General Victoria, had left it in disgust, and retired to the moun- 
tains as a hermit. Guerrero was the only insurgent chief left in force, and he had 
estaiblished himself near Zacatula, on the Pacific coast. 

Iturbide was placed in command of a strong force, by the Spanish viceroy, and or- 
dered to proceed, by a little town called Iguala, and take possession of half a million 
dollars, government funds, there; and then to subdue Guerrero, and thus restore com- 
plete quiet to the country, so long torn by these intestine commotions. 

Iturbide marched in February, 1821, and in a few days reached the village, and 
took possession of the money ; and then, seeing the opportunity for himself, immedi- 
ately declared the independence of Mexico. His " plan " is called from that village, 



CROSSING THE RIO CORONA. 313: 

becomes quite a stream. — The water of the Rio Corona is of 
the most remarkable clearness ; — no distilled water could be 
purer. — At the depth, in the holes, of six or eight feet, a peb- 
ble or little fish, on the bottom, could be seen with equal dis- 
tinctness ; — they appeared as though they were in the air. 
The clothes of the infantry, wet in fording the Padilla this 
morning, now, as they came to this, were dry, but imme- 
diately to be wet again. — This river, like the other, took 
them above their waists. — They jumped into this one with 
no reluctance, for the day had been very hot, and the water 
Was refreshing. — (This continual wetting of clothing, and 

" the plan of Iguala." It was, in substance, that Mexico should be an independent 
empire ; and that the crown of it should be offered to the king of Spain, on condi- 
tion that he should reside in Mexico; and if he refused, then to the princes of his- 
family, in succession, on the same conditions ; and that the Roman Catholic religion 
should be supported ; and that all citizens, whether born in Spain or Mexico, should 
be equal. 

This project, like all new ones in Mexico, was received with joy by the people ; — 
the revolutionists declared, that was all they were fighting for ; and Guerrero and 
his army came in and joined Iturbide; and General Victoria, the purest of all the 
revolutionists, gave his heart and hand to it ; thus showing that it was not for a re- 
pubUc that the war had been carried on, but for a change of princes. 

The whole of the country was soon in the possession of Iturbide's forces. The 
king and princes of Spain refused the crown upon those conditions, saying that the 
country already belonged to them, and Iturbide managed to have himself elected em- 
peror, and thus ascended the throne of Mexico. — The people were delighted, and the 
new empire of Mexico was known to the nations of the earth. — He reigned ten 
months, and a revolution was set on foot by a young officer, Antonio Lopez de Santa 
Anna, who raised a revolt against the emperor, and commenced this revolution in fa- 
vor of a republican form of government. 

The emperor sent General Echaviarri against Santa Anna, who gained some advan- 
tages over the latter, but then joined with him in the revolt. Other officers followed 
the example, and Iturbide abdicated the throne and went to Italy. — The government 
was changed to a republic, to give all the office hunters an opportunity for spoil. 

In the meantime, disorders began to grow more numerous, and the better part of 
the population seriously wished for Iturbide's return ; and arrangements were made 
by his friends, for that purpose. To defeat this, the new government passed a 
decree sentencing Iturbide to death, should he ever again land in the repua- 
lic. Vv^ithout knowing of this decree, he, on July 8th, 1824, landed at Soto la Ma- 
rina, some fifty miles south-east of this place, Padilla ; was apprehended and taken be- 
fore the legislature of Tamaulipas, then in session here, and, in accordance with the 
decree passed the previous April, by the general congress, was ordered to be shot> 
which sentence was carried into execution on the 19th of July, 1824. The repub- 
lic, in its formation, went on, and has continued since, a series of revolutions ; and, as 
said before, the course of the country has been since continually downward. 



314 CAMP AT RIO CORONA. 

wearing it wet, produced no bad effect upon them ; neither, 
at the end of the day's march, now that they had become 
accustomed to it, did they seem any more fatigued than the 
cavalry ; and they had more time to rest than these, having 
no horses to take care of at night.) — This crossing was ef- 
fected with the same fun and noise attending the other. — 
General Patterson stood on the opposite high bank, under 
the shade of lofty trees, and, looking down upon them, seem- 
ed to enjoy their hilarity and sport. — (These Illinoisans, or 
" suckers," as they arc often called, were great chaps for sol- 
diers ; full of fun and life, enduring any fatigue, and making 
sport of it; splendid in discipline and military precision of 
evolution ; and afterwards, when occasion required, they 
fought most bravely). 

After crossing the river, we encamped; the wagons came 
up, and we got our little corn for our horses, which was 
not enough for a single half feed. — A rancho was near, 
and the owner, an intelligent Mexican, had plenty of it, 
and each man of the cavalry bought for his own horse; 
those that had no money, borrowed for the purpose. — Our 
horses here, too, were enabled to get some grass. — The en- 
campment was in a pretty situation : a long, straight, natu- 
ral avenue, ran out from the river, towards the rancho and 
hill beyond. This avenue was about half a mile long, and 
a hundred yards wide, and on either side of it were the troops 
encamped ; — the train was drawn up in it. — The general's 
marquee, and those of his aids and staff, were pitched on the 
hill, under the tall rosewood and other trees, overlooking the 
river. — Having much time this evening, hundreds of the boys 
devoted it to washing their clothes in the stream. — Length 
of march this day, nineteen miles. 

January 4th. We were awakened by the reveille earlier 
this morning than usual. — The moon was still shining bright- 
ly, and by its aid we were enabled to feed our horses, lariat- 
ed round in the chapparal, without so much risk of getting 
our persons covered with the needles of the bush-like cactus, 
which grew in large quantities around the encampment. — 
Breakfast was soon disposed of. — The tents of our company 
had not been pitched, for all had spread their blankets round 



CAPILLA OR CHURCH OF HACIENDA. 315 

in the moonlight, and had had a fine night's sleep. — We were 
on the march before daylight. — General Patterson was a great 
hand for taking an early start, and had us moving early ev- 
ery morning. This was worse for our horses, however ; for 
we had noticed the truth of the old farmers' saying, that 
we had before heard, that the principal time for a horse to 
sleep, is just before day. 

We rode to the river, to water our horses before starting. 
— The clearness of this again attracted our attention ; when 
our horses were in it, looking directly down upon it, one 
could hardly distinguish the surface, by the bright moon- 
light, save where, at a little distance, the rays were reflected 
from it upwards. We had before seen pure water, but never 
a stream like this. — The road lay, for a mile or more, up the 
river. — Overhanging both sides, was a most luxuriant growth 
of timber, of kinds new to us, among which was the rosewood, 
a large tree, beautiful in form, with thick foliage, and with 
leaves in shape resembling those of the rose-bush, larger, 
however, and of fresher, deeper green. The lignum-vitse, 
too, was plenty ; ebony was abundant ; while the musquit, 
here, in this moistened soil, grew large ; oaks, the first that 
we had seen, were here, but they were of a species unknown 
to us. They were large, and resembled the " Spanish oak." 
— Cypress trees, like those on the Mississippi river, grew 
large along the stream. 

The road left the river, and took its former course south- 
west, and, about sunrise, we came to an hacienda (pron. 
ah-sc-en-dha), with a large extent of the plain, in which 
w^e had now entered, enclosed with brush fences, and 
cultivated, with corn and cotton ; many fine cattle were 
around. — This hacienda was not very large, not having 
houses for more than one hundred and fifty or two hun 
dred laborers; but had, as all large ones have, its church, 
(Capilla, or chapel as this class is called). — In these ofiiciate 
the capillanes, or independent priests, who are employed by 
the owner of the hacienda, to reside there, to attend to the 
spiritual necessities of the peones, who thus are prevented 
from losing time from their labors, to go off a long distance 
to mass, confession, christening, &c. — The owner of the haci- 



316 OFFICES OF THE CAPILLAN AT A HACIENDA. 

enda gives to the copillan a certain sum per year for his ser- 
vices, and he has no other perquisites, save gifts. He can 
officiate in all the ordinances of the church save burials and 
marriages ; these the curates, or next order of priests above 
him, must attend to ; and a couple, to be married, must go to 
the nearest parochia, or church in which there is a curate offi- 
ciating, to have the ceremony performed; or, in case of death, 
the body of the deceased must be carried to the same paro- 
chia, to have the funeral service pronounced, and the body 
buried in the consecrated ground, — no matter how far the dis- 
tance, there it must go. — Many perquisites from these things 
arise to the curates, but the capUlan receives none of them. — He 
has his regular service to perform at the hacienda where he 
is employed, and where he often stays for years, perhaps for 
life ; having his regular salary, and his board in la casa grande, 
or owner's, or overseer's mansion. — None of the feast days 
or ^'' functions''^ of the church, as many of the festivals are 
called, are celebrated at the capillas — all these are done at 
the parochias. — Nothing ever disturbs the tranquility and 
regular course of the weekly worship at the capilla, save the 
annual coming round of the day of the saint, to whom the 
hacienda is consecrated, for protection and assistance ; and 
every hacienda must have such a patron saint. — When his 
day comes, all work is stopped, and a great festival takes 
place in his honor, at the capiUa. — As all other haciendas, so 
was this one ; it had its saint, but we did not stop to inquire 
his name. 

When the advance of cavalry neared the hacienda, the 
bell-ringer, or sdcristan, mounted the bells on the capilla, and 
upon one, began a peculiar tolling, at slow and regular inter- 
vals, which was continued while the army was passing; and 
while we, of the advance, had got far out on the plain be- 
yond, the measured tone of the bell came after us. — Many of 
the men in the ranks, seeing that there were no persons about 
the church, or capilla, concluded that the bell was rung in ho- 
nor of, and as a compliment to, our general and army ; and 
taking it so, were pleased at the politeness of the inhabi- 
tants, &c. ; but the latter meant it far otherwise. — It was the 
slow stroke of the ceremony, called Nucstra Scnor estapatcntc; 



CEREMONY OF NUESTRA SENOR ESTA PATENTE. 317 

•or, in free English, *' Our Lord is open to view," meaning 
that the " host," or consecrated bread of the sacrament — 
which, by Roman Catholics, is believed to be turned into the 
actual body of Christ, and a supply of which is always kept 
in all the churches, of every grade, cathedral, paroclda, or 
■capilla — is placed out on the altar, and any one who chooses, 
can go in view of it, and thus, seeing the actual body of 
Christ, can pray directly to him, to save them from some 
dreadful calamity, that seems impending over the com- 
munity. When a severe storm seems about to burst over 
them, the host is put out on the altar, or, the body of Christ 
is exposed to view, and immediately the bell is struck with 
this peculiar, solemn note, and all join in prayer for deliver- 
ance. — But they are not obliged to go to the church, to look 
on the body of Christ, to do this ; though they are taught that 
their prayers are more effectual by doing so ; but wherever 
they are, in the house, or in the field, when this repeated note 
of Nuesira Scnor csla patcnte falls upon their ears, they must 
cross themselves and pray, either to the Virgin Mary, by an 
" Ave-Maria " (a short, often repeated prayer), or else every 
one to their own particular saints, upon whose days they 
were born or baptised. — All must continue to pray, while the 
regular notes of the bell are sounded. 

When we, therefore, had come in view of this hacienda, 
the bell struck, and continued at this, by order of the partic- 
ular capillan, or the priest of the hacienda : who thought, un- 
doubtedly, that our appearance in the district foretold as 
heavy a calamity as could fall on his flock. — The army pass- 
ed directly through, not stopping or interfering with them in 
any way ; and this result, undoubtedly, was attributed by them 
to the fervency and efficiency of their prayers to the body of 
Christ, the Virgin Mary, and to the numbers of saints ad- 
dressed. 

Leaving them striliing their bell, and praying to these 
saints, &c., the army continued its course towards Victoria. 
■ — The land over which we marched was very fertile ; — the 
road was excellent. — The tall mountains in front, that had 
been in view for two days, seemed apparently to heave up 
■their massive bodies against the clouds, more huge and more 



318 ARRIVAL AT VICTORIA. 

high. — At three, P. M., after steady marching for the day, we 
were nearing Victoria, and were met by several of the officers 
of the second Tennessee infantry, of the division which, un- 
der General Quitman, had taken the place five days before. 
— They informed us that the division of General Taylor had 
arrrived from Monterey that morning, and that his rear- 
guard had, an hour or two before, passed through town, to- 
wards their camp. Another mile after these officers met us, 
brought the advance in view of the plain bounded by the 
mountains which overhung the city of Victoria ; which, from 
its white buildings of stone, appeared well in the distance. 
— We marched on ; came near ; passed into the first streets, 
while the house-tops were crowded by our troops, of the 
other divisions. — Marching through several streets, we drew 
up in regular order in the plaza, where we were shortly join- 
ed by the infantry; — the large plaza being completely filled 
up. — Here we halted for an hour or two, while the report of 
our arrival was sent out to General Taylor, whose camp was 
some distance to the east of the~ town, and whose order we 
awaited for the position of our encampment. We occupied 
part of the time of our halt in buying oranges and other 
fruits, which were brought in by the peones, in great quanti- 
ties, to sell ; the remainder, in observing the place. — The 
inhabitants seemed to be surprised at the appearance of our 
column ; having seen that of General Taylor come in from 
the north-west, and so soon followed by ours from the north- 
east. 

We left the town, and proceeding to the eastward, a little 
over a mile, encamped on a creek of clear water ; one of the 
tributaries of the Santander. — We were now here at Vic- 
toria, and the whole disposable strength of the army was 
collected here ; but the enemy had fallen back, on the ap- 
proach of Quitman, towards Tula, still farther to the south- 
west. — We found that General Taylor had been delayed in 
his advance, by reason of his receiving a dispatch from Gen- 
eral Worth, at Saltillo, informing him that the enemy were 
advancing upon him, on the other side of the mountains from 
Victoria. — General Taylor, with his regulars, of Twiggs' di- 
vision, immediately retraced his steps to Monterey, to go 



SCENE OF VICTORIA AND THE CAMP. .321 

to Worth's assistance ; but, at that place, he received an- 
other dispatch from the same general, informing him that 
General Wool's army had reinforced him, coming in from 
Parras to Saltillo ; and that, moreover, the enemy was not 
advancing, having recalled his parties of observation. — Gen- 
eral Taylor immediately took the route for Victoria again, 
and arrived there at this date, as said before. — Distance 
marched by us this day, twenty-seven miles. 

January 1th. For three days now, we had remained in the 
camp that we first pitched on our arrival at this place. It 
was close by the running, rocky brook, up and down which 
the other divisions were encamped. — A high ledge of rock 
rose on the opposite side of this branch, overlooking the 
camp, the whole plain, and the city ; the view being bound- 
ed by the mountains. — From this eminence the author took 
a sketch of the view below and before him, which may be 
seen on the opposite page ; and as, reader, you wish to un- 
derstand the position of Victoria, and the camps, in relation 
to each other, imagine ^''ourself seated on this bluff, and ob- 
serve the scenes before you. 

Allow the author, in the first place, to introduce to your no- 
tice this sentinel, who is placed on this commanding position, 
for the double purpose of acting as ordinary guard to the camp, 
and of preventing any of the men from leaving it with their 
guns, which has been expressly forbidden by General Patter- 
son ; because that, yesterday, many men, of the infantry and 
cavalry, went out over these hills to the neighboring ranches, 
and killed some beeves, which here are of but little value 
though fine for eating. — For this purpose is the sentinel pla- 
ced here so high. — He is an Illinoisan, and a very clever fel- 
low. — He has just been considering whether the large hol- 
ster pistol, — which the author has taken with him, when as- 
cending the height to sketch, (not having heard the order), 
and which shoots as hard as a musket, and carries nearly as 
large a ball, — is a gun, within the scope of his orders, or 
not ; — but he, as well as the sergeant of the guard, who has 
stationed him here, and who, with his file of men, has just 
passed down the side of the hill, have concluded that al- 
though it is a " shooting iron," that they think would be as 
21 



322 SCENE OF CAMP AT VICTORIA. 

deadly in its effect upon either Mexican man or Mexican ox, 
that stood before it, as a carbine or musket, yet that it is not 
a gunj-^and they were only ordered to arrest those who went 
out with guns ; and so they have let the author remain undis- 
turbed in his drawing. — This Mexican, that you see speaking 
to the sentinel, having in his hand a lariat, (which it is not 
usual for them to carry around in their hands), and a large 
pair of spurs on his heels, saj^s that he came up here to look 
over the plain for a loose caballo (pro . ka-vi-pah) — horse. — He 
is very polite ; but the sentinel thinks that he is only here, to 
see if there is a chance below to steal one ; and he is telling 
him to vamos (be off). — Two feet beyond these men, reader, 
is the edge of the precipice, which falls off perpendicularly 
perhaps a hundred and fifty feet. You see the creek, or little 
river, running along over its rocky bed; — beyond this, on the 
right, you observe the camps of the two Illinois regiments 
of infantry : you see the men drawn out on parade.— The 
camp on the left, with the chapparal between it and the 
river, is that of our regiment ; but the men are drawn 
up in solid' square beyond. — rTlie wagon train that accom- 
panied our division from Matamoras, you perceive in its reg- 
ular lines : they look like a considerable number ; but could 
you see them strung out on the march, you would suppose 
that number to be greater than it really is. — Between the 
train and the tents of our regiment, you can observe the 
crowds around the commissaries, who are issuing the rations. 
— In front of the regiment of cavalry, as the}' are drawn out 
there, you see the marquee of General Patterson, and those 
of his aids. General Pillow's is within the chapparal, and 
is hid from view. — You see a wagon, by the general's 
tent : that is but one ; but these generals, when on the march, 
have more : — General Patterson has three for himself and 
staff — about half a dozen persons ; and General Pillow two; 
a colonel one ; — while one has to serve two companies of sol- 
diers — from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men. — It 
is a great thing to be an ofiicer here. 

You can't understand how a general and his staff could 
fill three large four-horse wagons with movables, when 
on the march ; but if you could be present at the general's 



SCENE AT VICTORIA. 323 

quarters, on encamping at night, you would be surprised at 
the amount of kitchen furniture, (enough for a good-sized 
hotel), bags, vegetables, champaign baskets, and cases of 
bottles ; carpet bags, mattresses, bedding, trunks, &c., taken 
out. — You would think of prairie wagons loaded for Oregon. 

Over the wagon train, to the right, you perceive two wa- 
gons going towards town. — They are part of a large number 
that go in every day, to bring corn for our horses ; which 
General Taylor has obliged the alcaldes of the toM'n to have 
brought in from the country around. — He has also required 
them send to us, daily, as much fodder as our horses can eat. 
— General Taylor is the one, after all. If we had been un- 
der him, on the route from Matamoras to this place, we should 
not have been compelled to buy our own corn, when there was 
plenty at the ranchos. — We have enough now, and to spare ; 
and our horses are getting on finely. — Over the body of cav- 
alry, towards the town, you see first the stone wall of the 
cemetery or consecrated burial-ground ; campo santo (sacred 
ground) the Mexicans call it. There are many fine tombs and 
much ornamented stone-work over the dead there ; but these 
are all too small to be seen at this distance. Every one that 
dies in the town, or anywhere around in the country, is bu- 
ried there ; for they could not rest in peace elsewhere. — 
The curate, or priest of the church, makes the friends or fam- 
ily of the deceased pay for the privilege pretty highly, how- 
ever : the price being four dollars, for a place near the gate ; 
and higher, then, as the distance back increases. The most 
favored and highest priced situations for graves, are near the 
back wall; as these run back, from ten up even as high as 
one hundred dollars, are paid for them. 

Beyond this cemetery, on the next hill, you see one end of 
the town of Victoria, with its white buildings of tunastatc rock. 
— The town is much larger than j^ou would think, from the 
view in this direction ; for it runs up along the creek, back to- 
wards the mountains, for more than a mile ; all this is rather 
down a slope, and is concealed from your view ; you look on 
the narrow end. — It contains about eight thousand inhabitants. 
The streets cross each other at right angles. — The houses are 
built of one story, principally, though many are of two. — 



324 THE CITY OF VICTORIA. 

The plaza is large and level, as the whole town appears 
to be, when you are in it ; the streets are wide and 
clean; the sidewalks broad, and paved with flag-stones. — 
The buildings are all in the Mexican, or old Spanish style ; 
the roofs flat, of stone, and parapet walls* of the same 
material around. — The church, ov parochia, is a very pretty 
and neatly ornamented building, on the plaza. — There are 
many stores in the town, but everything of foreign manufac- 
ture is of high price, especially glass and china-ware ; for 
instance, the cheapest sort of plain glass tumblers, cost a'/icj 
reales (sixty-two and a half cents), each. — This is on account 
of the risk of breakage, in transporting the articles on the 
backs of mules so far, coupled with the high duties on glass, 
which are computed by the pound ; and, on account of the 
high price, but few articles of this material are used by the 
common classes. 

If you wish to take a nearer peep at the town, imagine 
yourself over there, beyond the cemetery seen in the 
view, and at the edge of the place. — When there, you arrive 
at an old, ruined monument, originally put up in honor of 
General Victoria, after whom the town is named — for it is 
not a place of old date. — From this monument you can see 
directly down one of the principal streets of the town more 
than a mile, perhaps a mile and a half, towards the moun- 
tain ; which here appears to rise in a most threatening man- 
ner, high over the town. — On looking down this street, you 
observe many houses, mostly built of adobes, or large un- 
burnt bricks, or else of musquit poles, each with its little 
yard in the foreground. These yards are crowded with na- 
ranjas, or orange, and lemon trees, flUed with blooms, green 
and ripe fruits, at the same time ; many other trees and rich 
flowers are here, too ; and in many of the yards you see 
enormous plants of the maguey (see plate, page 381). — Let 
us pass along the street, peep into the yards and rough 



* These parapet walls, often mentioned, the reader will understand to be stone 
walls, which rise around the top of the house, commonly about four feet ; are oftea 
pierced with long, narrow loop-holes, through which to fire musketry into the street 
below ; — this was the case at Monterey. — Every Mexican house of the better order is 
built with them. 



HOUSES OF THE PEONES. 325 

houses on either hand. — You see women, in abundance, 
there, dressed as has been before described, and employed 
in washing, grinding, or rather mashing soaked corn, on 
flat stones, called rnctates. — Those at this employment are 
all on their knees ; and with a long, four-sided stone, or 
pestle, held in both hands, they mash and rub the soaked 
corn into a paste, to make their tortillas, or flat cakes ; some- 
what resembling, in shape and appearance, our common 
buckwheat cakes, though not so thick. — These houses and 
yards, in the outskirts of the town, are not very cleanly, or 
attractive to the eye. — Crowded in them, are any quantity 
of children ; some half-dressed, others not dressed at all ; 
with many dogs, of every size ; some of them dark colored, 
with no hair. 

Do you wish a closer view of the inside of one of these 
rough houses? — if so, step into one. — Pass through the rough 
gate in the crooked stick fence. — The naked, dirty children on 
the ground, look at you with alarm ; the surly dogs growl at 
your appearance ; but they are driven away by the woman, 
who, rising from her kneeling position, at the metate, comes 
forward with great politeness, and offers you a chair, as you 
step within the door ; that is, if she has one, which is by no 
means universal. If one is offered, you find it is rude, with a 
bottom of raw hide. — The women are all dirty, but exceed- 
ingly polite, as well as the men, who are squatted round, with 
their blankets over their shoulders. — You observe in the house 
a rough bed, consisting of a wool mattress, one or two stools, 
and some coarse pictures of saints, around on the walls. — On 
the hard dirt floor, is a collection of various kinds of rubbish ; 
and perhaps some corn in the corner. You will not wish to 
stay long, nor is it advisable, in this class of habitation, for 
you might perhaps, carry away with you some disagreeable 
customers. — Now, see these people next Sunday, in the 
street, and you would think them scrupulously neat. 

Proceeding on, we see many Mexicans in the street ; some 
are driving in a jackass or two, loaded with little bags of char- 
coal; others have baskets of pcloncillas, or small loaves of 
sugar, others large baskets of naranjas, or oranges ; while 
others are driving horses or mules, with quarters of bloody 



326 SCENES IN VICTORIA. 

beef on them, with so much weight on a mule, that he can 
hardly stand under it; these are going to the market-house. 
— Fui-ther on we will come to one of these. — You will ob- 
serve, that the meat is cut up into thin steaks and long strips ; 
that which is not sold, will be hung up in the sun, and dried, 
without salt ; for the air is pure, and dries it hard ; — in this 
state it is sure to find purchasers — being used by travelers, 
muleteers, peones, &c. — Around the market, you may see 
many of these latter, wrapped in their horongos, locking lazy 
and dirty, while the women, covered with their rcbosos, arc 
stepping rapidly about. 

As we approach the plaza, the rude buildings and musquit 
fences give way to solid stone edifi.ces, with interior courts ; 
some having court and garden enclosed by high, cemented 
stone walls, above the top of which the orange trees rise. — 
The buildings have but few windows, and these are per- 
pendicularly barred with iron. — Here may be seen some 
women, of the higher class, — neither reading, writing, or 
sewing — doing nothing, but looking on the street. — There are 
not many, however, for most of these houses have been left 
by the inhabitants, as our forces approached. 

On the side-walks, you may meet many Mexican gentle- 
men, some dressed like ourselves ; others in their own man- 
ner, with cahoncs, calzoncillas , sombreros, and serapcs. They 
converse at the corners of the streets, and occasionally smile, 
but never laugh aloud : it would be a curiosity to hear such a 
thing among them. 

Stand at the corner of the plaza, and observe the crowd 
of all those described pass you continually ; — step into one 
of the stores, and look at the women, who come to get can- 
dles, soap, and various other things, for which they pay their 
picayunes, and carry off the articles bought, under their re- 
bosos ;* and after having gazed long enough at the motley 
throng that pass and repass continually, let us return to our 
fkst place, on the ledge mentioned before, over Gen. Patter- 
son's camp, in the foreground of the picture. 

*As the men of the peon class use their horongos for a coveruig by day and a bed 
by night, so the women of the same class use their rebosos for various purposes : to 
cover tlieir heads during the day ; for part of tlaeir bed clothing at night ; for a towel 
occasionally, and even for a basket in which to carry small articles. 



MOUNTAINS AT VICTORIA. 327 

On the left of this view you will see, in the distance, 
two large fields, of a lighter color than the adjoining chap- 
paral. These are of sugar-cane, which is luxuriant, and 
rich in juice. — Beyond these, over the hill, is Gen. Quit- 
man's camp, which cannot be seen from here ; — most of his 
force is over there, part being in the town as the garrison. 
He has there, in camp, the first and second Tennessee, the 
Mississippi and Georgia regiments, and the Baltimore batta- 
lion. — General Taylor's camp, of Twiggs' command of regu- 
lar infantry, artillery, and dragoons, is to the right of the 
whole view, a mile farther down this creek ; — the road to it 
from town, runs down on the other side of the little hill of 
chapparal jo\i see on the right of the picture. (On to this 
hill, in a day or two after this, was the camp of our division 
moved ; and a farther change took place, in one of the Illinois 
regiments going up to Gen. Quitman, and the two Tennessee 
coming down to us ; so that Gen. Pillow's brigade of the 
three Tennessee regiments, were together, for the first time 
during the campaign, and we continued together after this 
for a month or two, then separated at Tampico, and were re- 
united at Vera Cruz ; separated again there ; reunited again 
at Jalapa). 

Now, reader, having observed the camp, the town, and 
other objects, look beyond, at the range of mountains ; see 
how ragged their sides, how deep their chasms, how terrible 
their precipices. No road, in that direction, lies over them ; 
one winds to the left from the town, and after following their 
base many miles, enters the Tula pass, and runs on toward 
San Luis Potosi; — it is but a small track, and cannot be 
passed by wagons or artillery. You observe the largest 
mountain in front. — It appears as though it was easy to as- 
cend; but it is extremely difficult. — Some of our boys start- 
ed yesterday morning, before daylight, to ascend it ; — they 
toiled on, and, at twelve o'clock, kindled a fire, to show 
us how high they had gone; — they were not halfway up. 
They persevered, reached the top in the afternoon, and got 
back to camp in the course of the night; and to-day are all 
asleep, worn out — and their curiosity is satisfied. 

On the peaks that you see on the left, have, each night, 



328 MOUNTAINS AT VICTORIA. 

been signal fires lit up by the Mexicans, to give notice of our 
movements. These would blaze a vidiile, then be extin- 
guished ; then re-kindled ; and by such movements, precon- 
certed, they were enabled rapidly, from mountain peak to 
mountain peak, along, to convey all intelligence gained each 
night, to Santa Anna. Our men do not like these fires ; but 
in the night stand at their tents and gaze at them, as they 
gleam far up the mountain, and wish to get at them ; but 
that would be a difficult task, and not worth the trouble. 
Some of the infantry, yesterday, on a scout in the ravines at 
the base of the mountains, surprised a small party of Mexi- 
can soldiers, killed two or three, and took a few mules, load- 
ed with ammunition. 

Those little hills which appear at the foot of the moun- 
tains, and seem so small, are of much magnitude ; and 
would so appear but for the towering mountains far above 
them. These now look grand and imposing ; but, reader, 
to see them in the morning, as the rising sun brings into 
bright relief their ridges and precipices, and throws into 
shadows those chasms and recesses, tinting all exposed to its 
rays with a golden, rosy hue, while the white, fleecy clouds 
roll up their vast sides, then, indeed, the scene is beautiful and 
striking. — One could stand for hours and gaze upon their 
majestic appearance, and lose himself in thought and con- 
templation of their grandeur and vastness. 

January Wth. We had now been at Victoria a week ; had 
visited again and again all parts of the town; attended their 
churches, fandangos, and all public places ; got acquainted 
with many of the principal inhabitants ; visited continually 
the different regiments in Gen. Quitman's camp, above, and 
also in Gen. Taylor's, below; made many excursions to the 
ranches in the neighborhood, and run around much ; — ^had 
drilled, stood guard, and, as usual, many had employed them- 
selves in gambling, both in town and camp. The Mexicans 
joined in this as freely as our men ; in the town all crowded 
together, the Mexican in his horongo and the American in 
his uniform, around the roulette, rondo, or billiard tables ; (for 
in every town we took were fine billiard rooms), or else 



APPEARANCE OF GEN. TAYLOR. 329 

around the banks of faro or chuck-a-luck, of which last there 
were many in the streets ; all bet freely. 

If a Mexican won, he did not exult ; if he lost his last 
qvartilla^ (a silver coin worth half a picayune), he showed no 
emotion of regret, or change of countenance. Some, who 
came in from the country, with loads of oranges or sugar 
loaves, lost all they had received for them, but said not a 
word. — As a people, they are far less excitable than our race. 

Our time, in such a collected army, among so many, and, 
for the first time, seeing those, of whom, in the events of the 
war before, we had heard so much, passed agreeably and 
quickly. 

As might be expected, every one was anxious to see Gen, 
Taylor, not having had the opportunity of meeting him before ; 
but many met him now several times before they knew 
him, for he looked so plain and unassuming. — He is a full 
shaped man, not over large, but thick set, inclining to corpu- 
lency ; — has a full, double chin, a very pleasant countenance, 
full of good humor, and has none of the pomp and show of 
power and dignity about him, of which many of his inferior 
officers possess so much.* The author never saw him with 
his uniform on, for he was commonly dressed in citizens' 
clothing of bi'own color. He rode about at Victoria, some- 
times on a small Mexican horse, and sometimes on a very 
pretty mule, of a yellowish color, and with an easy gait. — 
An anecdote is related in camp of him ; it is this : 

He was riding this horse, one day in that week, along the 

* As a general rule, this feeling, and continued exhibition of it, among the officers, 
was in an inverse proportion to their rank ; that is, General Taylor, at the head of 
the army, had the least ; then it increased as the rank fell in grade, until it came down 
to captains, and from them to lieutenants ; by many of whom it was continually shown, 
in a manner as simple in itself, as it was unpleasant and disgusting to those whom 
fortune had placed under their command for the time being: — and the dignity of some 
of the quartermasters and commissaries was beyond all comprehension ! But, reader 
do not suppose that this applies to all the officers of the grade spoken of, or to one- 
half, or even one-third of them ; but it applies to enough. — The author bears willing 
testimony to the upright, the ollicer-lilve and courteous bearing, of the great majority 
of them during the varied scenes of the campaign; — a course that not only secured 
to them the respect, esteem, and obedience of the men under them then, but also for 
their future lives, the kindly feelings, and good wishes of all for their welfare. 



330 SWAPPING HORSES WITH GENERALS, 

road that passed through our second encampment, on the 
hill of chapparal, (seen on the right of the picture), when 
one of the men, liking the looks of the animal, and not 
knowing the general, neither dreaming of his rank, called to 
him as he passed along : "Hallo, stranger, how will you swap 
that pony for this horse ;" at the same time slapping his own 
horse on the back. — The general stopped, and with a smile 
replied, " that he did not care about swapping ; that the pony 
was a favorite of his." At this time the general's orderly, 
or attendant, in uniform, rode up and stopped behind. 

Seeing him, the suspicions of the man who had addressed 
the general were in an instant aroused, as to whom he was 
speaking ; — his face flushed, and he became confused ; and 
another telling him, at the same moment, that it was General 
Taylor, he asked his pardon. — The general smiled, and told 
him that it was no harm ; — asked him a half a dozen ques- 
tions about our long march from Tennessee; — told him that 
he had come from a state of brave men and good soldiers, &c., 
&.C., and then rode on, followed by his orderly. — In those few 
moments, he had obtained the perpetual good will of that 
soldier, which he will carry with him through life, and the 
same of all those who saw it. 

Another anecdote of horse-swapping with generals, that 
is repeated in camp : — It is said, that a man of one of our 
companies, a few days since, while on the march, fell in love 
with the appearance of General Patterson's black horse — a 
fine animal. He, having himself a noble horse, rode near 
the general, and the following words were passed : " Good 
morning, general." — That officer looked round at him, Avith 
an air of disturbed dignity ; but the man, not perceiving that, 
continued : "A fine horse, that black that j^ou ride, general." 
No reply, as yet. — " General, how would you swap him for 
this one ?" — The general turned his head round the other 
way, and, in a gruff" voice, ordered his guard to " take that 
man under arrest ;" which was immediately done, to his 
utter consternation. — As he saw his predicament, and not 
knowing how long he might be kept arrested, amid the sup- 
pressed laughter of all near, he called out: "Well, general, 
if you won't swap horses, you will let me have something to 



GEN. TWIGGS' APPEARANCE. 331 

eat, by and by, — won't you?" — And continued to his attend- 
ants, wdio were taking him off, still in the general's hearing : 
— " Why, the general is a fool ; he did not know but that 1 
would have given him fifty dollars to boot." — But the gen- 
eral had been taken by surprise ; and, after a few moments' 
further ride, his countenance assumed a smile, and he sent 
^n order back for the man's release, to his infinite gratifica- 
tion ; but he ti-ied no more to get possession of the black 
horse. 

As we are on these anecdotes, in which our generals are 
concerned, we v\^ill give a little one with regard to General 
Twiggs' appearance. — Twiggs is a man somewhat advanced 
in years ; of a large body ; full, round, red face ; heavy whis- 
kers and moustachios : but these are all white, or nearly 
so. — Of course he had, when first seen, a singular appear- 
ance. — Yesterday, he was coming along the road, through 
our encampment, going down to General Taylor's. — Two of 
the men of our compan)'', by name Dyer and Dresser, who 
had never seen the general, started towards their horses, tied 
a hundred yards or more down the road. — Dyer had a large 
bag of corn on his shoulder, to feed them; while Dresser had 
two heavy bundles of fodder. — They saw General Twiggs 
coming up towards them: they caught a view of his red 
face, and white whiskers and moustachios, long and bushy. 
— As if frightened, they suddenly stopped ; looked quickly 
at one another, and at him again ; — he was coming nearer. 
— With a look of the greatest alarm, Dyer dropped his bag 
of corn in the road, and ran with all his speed back; while 
Dresser hesitated a moment, looked again, then dropped his 
-fodder, and cleared after him. — Both ran up the road, look- 
ing back over their shoulders, with the same appearance of 
alarm. — General Twiggs, seeing this, was much annoyed ; 
and his countenance was of higher color. — He came in 
view of them again, as they had stopped at the lower tent 
in the company line. — As soon as he appeared, they ran 
up to the head of the line ; and all eyes were upon them 
and the general. — As he still came nearer, with the ap- 
pearance of the utmost fear, they dashed head foremost into 
the thorny chapparal, and hid themselves in its thickets, — 



332 SUDDEN NORTHER. 

The general's face, as he saw all this, was more red than 
ever ; while he passed by, with a bow to those who were 
standing spectators of the curious scene. 

During the week past, we had been unable to conjecture 
anything correctly, with regard to our future movements ; 
for General Taylor kept his designs to himself. Much desire 
was shown, among the men, to go forward to the " Tula 
pass," — a strong point about forty miles to the south-west, — 
and attack the large Mexican force there stationed ; and it 
was thought that preparations were making for such a move- 
ment ; but nothing definite could be ascertained. 

Yesterday morning, a norther came down upon us. These 
were always cold on the low lands of the coast, but up here 
in the mountains much colder ; and the temperature, at once, 
changed from what it had been, of uncomfortable heat, to 
freezing cold. The last night, water froze nearly a quarter 
of an inch thick ; and the change, so sudden, chilled us 
through. — Yesterday, all were wrapped in their blankets, " a 
la Mexicana ;" and many, and the author with them, went 
into town in that way, to attend the religious services in the 
parochia, or church. — The ceremonies were imposing and 
solemn ; and every one — both Catholic and Protestant — Mex- 
ican and American — friend and foe — apparently in unity of 
spirit, joined in the worship. 

An American sentinel, with his musket and bayonet, stood 
at the door to preserve the utmost order, and to cause those 
who did not participate in the ceremonies, to stand in the 
large space to the left; while those that did, knelt in the cen- 
tre or body of the church. A stone basin, on a high projec- 
tion, stood near the door, containing holy water ; — into this 
the people, as they came in, dipped their fingers, and made 
the sign of the cross on their foreheads. 

There were no pews or seats within the walls of the 
church : the pillars that supported the high arched roof, the 
roof itself, the floor, the area of the altar, were all of stone ; 
smooth, cemented, and of excellent workmanship. The 
church was spacious ; — on the left side, behind the heavy 
pillars, were two confessional boxes ; and farther on was 
a full length figure of the Virgin Mary, with steps be- 



"MASS" AT PAUOCHIA. 333 

fore it, for kneeling : — in the back of the church, in a large 
recess, was the altar ; — the whole floor of this was eleva- 
ted about two feet above that of the body of the church, 
was separated from that by a railing, and was richly car- 
peted. — The back of the altar was a mass of elaborately 
carved pillars, scollops, figures of apostles, saints, and an- 
gels ; surmounted near the lofty ceiling, by another image of 
the Virgin Mary. — This was all of wood, well carved, and 
gilded, and made a great show. — On the lower part of this, 
in front, were the stands for the books of the priests; one on 
either hand, and several tall candles of wax were burning 
around, on massive gilded candlesticks. — All these were or- 
namented most richly. Conspicuously placed in a niche, 
w^as a vase, which contained the consecrated bread, or actual 
body of Christ, (according to their belief) ; which bread, whe- 
ther taken or not at the time, is always a direct object of 
worship by them. This was the third mass of the day, and 
the priest was getting apparently fatigued, for he could not 
■eat anything until all were said. 

On the right of the church, in front of the altar, was a 
deep recess, in the further part of which was a full length 
figure of Christ, upon the cross ; and to this, directly, many 
paid their adoration.— On this side of the church, also, was 
a small pulpit, in which, in the afternoon, the priest gave a 
sermon ; but the people did not care about hearing that ; — 
they were satisfied with performing the ceremonial part of 
the worship ; every one being required to hear mass once, at 
least, a week. When this is over, they go about their busi- 
ness or pleasure. 

Mass is said in the United States, in all Catholic churches, 
in the same way, precisely, that it is there, and is therefore 
unnecessary to be described. It is only in those things in 
which, by peculiar custom, they differ from Catholics of other 
countries, (which, in many ceremonies, they do), or in those 
that show their national character and customs to the best 
advantage, that the author will touch upon in this work. 

One of these, peculiar to them, and memorable as being 
so very different from our customs, is their manner of burial 
of children. When one of these die, that is a small one, it 



334 BURIAL OF "ANGELS," 

is not to them like another death, a source of deep grief to 
its parents and connections. On the other hand, it is a som-ce 
of the highest and most extravagant joy. — It is not a soul 
polluted with guilt and sin, which, after leaving the body, 
must go to purgatory, and continue to suffer much torment 
uutil the day of judgment ; (its sufferings, however, very 
much alleviated, by having the priest to say a number, about 
sixteen, masses for it, he receiving the sum of one dollar a 
mass), when it will be called out and judged for the deeds 
done in the body, and consigned eternally to heaven or to 
hell ; — but it is a guiltless soul, that goes not to purgatory 
at all, but ascends directly to Paradise ; for they say that Je- 
sus Christ said of these, " Suffer little children to come unto 
me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Hea- 
ven ; " and therefore they go directly to him, and are little 
angels {See St. Matt. 18 ch, 10 vo-.) in presence of Jesus, and 
of the holy Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, apostles, and 
angels, in supreme delight and happiness ; and not only so, 
but the holy Virgin admits them to her presence continuall}', 
and hears all their intercessions in behalf of their parents, 
and those to whom they were once dear upon earth ; and 
about whom, now, they flit in the stilly nights, and whisper 
to them many things of peace, joy, and holy tranquility, and 
watch over them, and preserve them from harm. 

Believing this, as they sincerely do, it is no wonder that 
the death of a child is no source of sorrow, but rather of the 
highest joy, to the parents and family ; — and always after, 
when praying to the Virgin Mary, they call, too, upon these 
little cherubs, to assist them in their petitions. — Women here 
tell you not, with mournful countenance, that they have lost 
so many children ; but, with eyes beaming with joy, that 
they Jum despachados tantos angclcs, (have dispatched so many 
angels). 

These " angels," too, are buried with no cost : the priest 
has nothing for his services ; the sacristan nothing for his ; 
nor the gravedigger, or band of music ; which items, for other 
burials, cost high. — Neither is there any need for masses 
to be said, for the repose of the soul. The ceremony is 
this : — A child is dying ; the priest attends, the holy oil is 



BURIAL OF "ANGELS." 335 

applied, &c., &c. — After death, it is arranged in its best 
clothing, and laid on a bier, ornamented with artificial 
flowers ; which bier belongs to the church, and is kept for the 
purpose. — On this, the delighted mother scatters flowers of 
every kind of fragrant perfume. — Her neighbors are called 
in, and rejoice with her, upon the departure of the angel. — 
Four women, in their best attire, preceded by a band of 
music, playing lively tunes, and the bearer of the codes, or 
rockets, proceed to the church. — This rocket-bearer contin- 
ually discharges these. — From the church, where the body as 
well as the attendants have been most liberally sprinkled 
with the agita bcndila, or holy water, by the priest, the angel 
is taken to the campo sanio, and buried, without a coflin (for 
coflins in the interior, are seldom used). — At night, if the 
family can afford it, they have a fandango, on the occasion, 
on account of their joy. — A difficulty often occurs between 
the parents of a deceased child and the priest, as to its being 
an angel or not, on account of its age. — The priest wants his 
burial fees, and maintains that it is too old ; is not an angel ; 
that it is a sinner ; and that, consequently, the fees of the 
burial service, the gravedigger, the sacristan, and those of 
the band of music, must all be paid; (and a number of masses 
must be said for its soul, to place it, in purgatory, as they 
have it, " in a comparatively easy situation ") ; and there 
would be no joy, no dance, but most profound grief instead. 

But the fond mother maintains, most strenuously, that it 
is an angel, and that consequently it goes, not to purgatory, 
but to the climes of the blessed. — The priest maintains his 
point ; but if the age of the child is anywhere between six 
and eight years, he is commonly obliged to give in to the mo- 
ther; and so, by the peculiar service, the child is sent off* to 
the Virgin Mary, as a cherub, and the rejoicings take place. 

One other of their customs with regard to the souls of the 
dead, and we will leave them on that point. — As said before, 
if a person dies, his soul goes immediately to purgatory, to 
remain until judgment, and suffer continually, unless the 
masses are said for his relief; but these cost sixteen dollars,, 
and not many of the peones can raise this sum to pay the 
priest. — They are already in debt to their masters, beyond 



336 RIFA DE ALMAS. 

their ability to discharge ; so the souls of their fathers, mo 
thers, brothers, sisters, or children, must remain in purgatory, 
and " sweat it out," very much to their continual grief. — 
Now, to aid these, once a year, in the spring, at every paro- 
chia and capilla, is the Rifa dc Abnas, or " raffle of souls," a 
lottery, to see which of these souls in purgatory shall be 
released. — Sixty-four tickets are made out and numbered ; 
these are sold, by the priests, to the pconcs and ?nosos, or 
house servants, at a quarter of a dollar a ticket; each one 
buying one, two, three, or more tickets, as they have the 
means. — Now, comes begging, and pleading with their mas- 
ters, to get the quarter of a dollar, to procure a ticket ; — for 
every one has a parent, brother, or sister, or dear friend, in 
purgatory, who, in the dark night, have often appeared to 
them, and in hollow voices, told them to have masses said, to 
release their souls from torments. — Now, every one wants a 
chance to do this. — The tickets are quickly sold, and the 
drawing takes place at the church. — Two sombreros are held 
up ; one has in it the tickets, from one to sixty-four, the 
other has sixty-three blanks, and one prize. — They are 
drawn by a person inserting his hands into each, taking out 
a number with one, and either a blank or prize with the 
other. The one fortunate enough to secure the prize, is 
looked upon as having accomplished a great thing. — He in- 
stantly names the unfortunate individual, who has been suf- 
fering in purgatory so long, unrelieved. — His name is taken 
down by the priest, and the masses are said for him, and that 
soul is then in a condition of comparative ease. — We will 
speak of other of their ceremonies and religious customs at 
another time. 

Jamiary I4th. The cool weather had now passed ofl', and 
it was again so warm that we sought the shade upon every 
opportunity. The health of the regiment, and of the army, 
had been, while we remained here, good, and the men were 
in excellent spirits ; — our horses were in fine order, and 
every one wished to move still farther on, to meet the ene- 
my. Of this place, although so pleasant, we were tired, 
having seen all that was interesting. 

This morning we were gratified to see General Twiggs' 



RECEPTION OF LETTERS FROM HOME. 337 

division of regulars, with Captain Bragg's artillery, moving 
by us, and taking the road towards the south-ward ; and 
shortly afterward, our division received orders to prepare to 
follow them on the march the next day. This was good 
news, and all our little arrangements were made with alac- 
rity. Many of the men began to wash up all their little 
wardrobes, and stow them safely away in their saddlebags ; 
arms were put in first rate order, and a general fixing up 
took place. Some were at work sewing their rent clothing ; 
others mending their saddles, bridles, girths, and other horse 
equipage, and many Avere engaged in brightening their 
swords, and fixing up their carbines and pistols. In these 
arrangements, the day passed away. Near sunset. Captain 
Haynes' company came into town, with a wagon train, 
from Matamoras. 

We were rejoiced to meet them again, and the}^ as much 
so to see us. — They all looked tired and worn, both men and 
horses. — They had had a hard time of it since they left us 
at San Fernando, to return ; — they had been on the march 
continually since, and now arrived just as we, thoroughly 
recruited, men and horses, were about again to leave. — They 
brought up for our regiment about two hundred letters, that 
had arrived at Matamoras after we left. — These were most 
eagerly sought after and perused by the fortunate ones to 
whom they were sent ; while others who were disappointed 
in their expectations of receiving some, were cross and surly, 
and swore that they would never write home again. Those 
v^ho received them seemed never tired of reading them ; they 
looked them over again and again, and still endeavored to 
find some word in them before unseen. 

There were many scenes of home brought before the 
minds of the men that evening, by those letters ; and after 
the perusal of them was over, groups, in every company, sat 
up late, around the camp fires, talking of their contents, 
and of the scenes of their homes. — They spoke of this one, 
of that one, of another ; turned to the letters, to read again, 
to a mess-mate, what was said of a particular person or 
thing with which both were acquainted at home ; so that 
one letter gave pleasure to half a dozen or more persons, of 
22 



338 EFFECT OF LETTERS RECEIVED. 

whom the writer, at the moment, had never thought. — It w^as 
interesting to see the effect upon the groups around. — All 
gambling was stopped ; — no dice or cards, with which every 
evening before had been spent, were to be seen ; but all 
minds were reverting to their scenes of home. — Some had 
received news of loss of friends, by death, &c.; but these 
were few; — most were of a cheering nature. — Some of the 
men of our company, who had been sick at Matamoras, came 
up with Captain Haynes.* 

* The following incidents of the march of this detachment, politeij furnished to the 
author by one of the officers, will be found interesting to the reader : 

" The return march, to Matamoras, of this detachment, was made in two days, — a 
train of sixty wagons loaded, — and all were on the march to Victoria on the fourth 
day after the detachment left San Fernando. — At San Fernando, some delay being 
necessary in crossing the troops over the river, some of the officers of the detachment 
were invited to the house of Don Ramon de Garcia, one of the wealthiest men of 
northern Mexico, — one of whose brothers had recently been governor of Tamaulipas, 
another minister to France and Spain, and the third a gallant colonel in the Mexican 
army. His dwelling was a very strong, castellated building, with wings, and a back 
court, surrounded by a strong high wall. The interior was furnished in American 
style — sofas, chairs, mirrors, curtains, carpets, pianos, and guitars. — After showing his 
fine furniture, Don Ramon remarked with an air of satisfaction, pointing to each arti- 
cle, ' este es Americano — eso es Americano — estos sonAmericanos — todos so?i Amer^ 
icanos,' {this American, that American, those Americans, all Americans.) 

" The party found a splendid table spread and ready for them on their arrival. The 
manners of Don Ramon were those of a finished gentleman. Not being able to speak 
English, he sent for a little Italian, who had found his way, after some residence in 
Louisiana, to San Fernando, and was there dealing in wines and agua ardiente. 

" At his table he spoke much of the war, of his native country, and of the United 
States. He knew, he said, that the United States had more men, and better men ; 
more money, and more ships, than his own. In the contest going on, he said, he 
knew Mexico must suffer ; but he thought both would suffer. They were neighbors 
— both republics — both seeking to establish and sustain the great democratic principle 
of self-government. He proposed several toasts, equally complimentary to the United 
States, and wishing for peace. 

"In return, one of the party proposed, ' The Mexican government; — May she soon 
fall into better hands than the tyrant and despot who now rules her.' At this the Mexi- 
can patriot seemed embarrassed, — took up his glass, and then set it down without tast- 
^ ing it. — ' Gentlemen,' said he, * excuse me ; — Santa Anna is my friend ; — he has 
been the friend of my family ; — we love him; — we are his friends. — He is the friend 
of his country, — the friend of liberty. — He desires to uphold the democratic principles 
of self-government. — I believe there is no hope for Mexican nationality, except through 
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna ! Gentlemen, I propose the health of all good repub- 
licans in both countries.' 

This instance of devotion to Santa Anna is mentioned, to show that he has warm 
friends, in his country, who do not look upon him as a tyrant, — this, more especially, 



IMPORT OF DISPATCHES. 339 

We soon found that Captain Haj'nes had brought papers 
more important in their effect upon us and all the army, than 
these private letters, that so engrossed our attention. — In the 
first place, we learned, to our great surprise, that General 
Winfield Scott had arrived in Mexico, and taken command 
of the whole army ; and that our favorite, General Taylor, 
was now but second. — In the next place, we found that Gen- 
eral Scott had sent, by that officer, orders to General Tay- 
lor to fall back upon Monterey, with a small portion of 

in the wealthier classes. [There is no patriotism, however, in any of them ; — they only 
prefer that president who advances their own families or interests the most. — Autho):'] 
When the dinner party broke up, the Mexican presented his card, neatly printed with 
his name and that of his wife. 

" After leaving San Fernando, the detachment reached the town of Santander, without 
any adventures. Here a great number of robber-looking Mexicans came into the camp 
early in the morning, and stood around the fires, very much to the annoyance of the 
men. Although they were unarmed, the early hour, and their number, led to the 
suspicions of some harm, especially as several armed parties were known to be 
within a few miles. 

" Several men were quietly posted so as to prevent the escape of the Mexicans, and 
they were all taken prisoners ; although several broke through the guard, but were run 
down and brought back to camp. This brought out many men from the town, who 
were also added to the number of prisoners. Upon a close examination, we found 
that the Mexicans, (who were closely wrapt up in their horongos, on account of the 
norther), had stolen, in a few minutes, two carbines, one sword, one pistol, and a blan- 
ket, — axes and hatchets not a few, — and contrived to secure them under their blan- 
kets. Upon inspection, one young Mexican was found with a carbine under his 
blanket, stuck down the leg of his trowsers ; — other articles were found similarly lo- 
cated. 

" Among those who came down from the town was an old man, who had done the 
honors of the previous evening, as the alcalde. When the blanket was pulled off, 
exposing the carbine on the person of the thief, this old man flew into a pre- 
tended rage, — called the young man to him — ordered him to kneel down — seized a 
cor?istalk, lying near, and struck him over the shoulders, as if he actually expected 
to kill him with it, and exclaiming at every blow, ' Malo, malisimo ! — imicho 
malo ! — ve it ! ' as if to say, bad, very bad — begone ; or get thee gone ! The lu- 
dicrous manner in which the head rascal pounced upon the little rascal, when he was 
caught in the act, excited loud laughter among all, even among the Mexican pris- 
oners. 

" All the prisoners (about forty in number) were told, that inasmuch as it was evident 
that they were all engaged together, they would be taken on to Victoria, about one 
hundred and fifty miles, and kept until the stolen arms were returned. — The alcalde 
and another old man were released upon parole, upon their promise to hunt the stolen 
articles in the town ; — the others were formed in two lines, and marched off towards 
Victoria, behind the train. 

" We had proceeded perhaps a mile, when we were overtaken by a large crowd of 



340 DISPATCHES FROM GEN. SCOTT. 

his troops ; and to send the main body of those at Victoria, 
regulars and volunteers, under generals Patterson, Twiggs, 
Pillow, and Quitman, forward to Tampico, about two hun- 
dred and ten miles to the south-east. 

We learned that an attack was to be made on Vera Cruz, 
by General Scott, and that all the available forces of the 
army would be required for that attack, on account of its 
strong fortifications. This news was received with the 
greatest interest by all the army, especially by those who 
were now about to be separated from General Taylor. 

The news of the dispatch run and circulated, that evening, 
from camp to camp, regiment to regiment, from one line of 
tents to another, and into every tent, awakening the sleepers, 
who rose on their elbows, inquired, and talked of the matter; 
and, before morning, it was known to all, even to General 
Twiggs' division, which, as before stated, had that morning 
taken up their march. — Gen. Taylor, that night, sent an ex- 
women, boys, girls, and dogs, — some crj'ing, others trying to laugh, and the dogs 
barking. Still we kept on, the crowd behind us increasing, and pressing upon us, as 
if determined upon a rescue, vl et armis. Fearful of the result, in case of an action, 
we had recourse to the Mexican art of negociation ; — wo halted for a parley. One 
woman, more bold than the rest, came forward, pointed to her husband, and proposed 
to give ' dos pesos,' (two dollars), if we would let him off; — another offered *■ quatro 
reales' (four bits), for hers ; while a third very gravely displayed in her hand ' un 
real,' (one bit), which she proposed to exchange for her better half. 

" Having explained to them that we did not want their money, but our property, tlaey 
then begged : — one wept ; another scolded ; while a beautiful girl, whose interest was 
more intense, looked daggers out of two pretty black eyes. — This was too much 
for common nerves ; so we agreed with the alcalde, (who now came up to report), 
that if he would pay for the stolen articles, we would let the rascals go. This was 
gladly done, although the Mexicans could not refrain from begging off from part of 
the amount, saying they were very poor. 

" They were then told that ' it was a pity that so many honest men should suffer on 
account of two or three rascals ; — that in every village, a few rascals, by their crimes, 
might ruin many honest meii.' (Here several robber looking men, with long musta- 
chios, gravely smote their breasts, saying, ' Si, Senor, Si, Senor ! ') The alcalde re- 
plied with great coolness. — He said : ' It is true, Senor ; — the people of Santander are 
all honest men ; they don't know how to steal ! ' The corn-stalk flagellation here 
rose to view ; but repressing our laughter, we marched off, leaving the women and 
dogs to escort the hmest ladrones of Santander back to their homes. 

" Without any attack from the Mexicans, we arrived safely, with sixty thousand ra- 
lions for the army, at Victoria, after the first brigade of General Taylor had already 
started for Tampico." 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MARCH. 341 

press to Gen. Twiggs, directing Captain Bragg to return, 
with his artillery ; for he had determined to keep him. Colo- 
nel May's dragoons, and Colonel Davis' regiment of Missis- 
sippi riflemen. — All the rest were to go to Tampico. — The 
arrangements were made this night, by the generals, and on 
the next morning Gen. Patterson's division were on the 
move. Gen. Quitman's force brought up the rear the day after. 

EL NACIMIENTO, (tHE NATIVITx). 

There was one religious ceremony which, about this time, was observed throughout the re- 
public of Mexico ; though, at Victoria, the beginning of it, and the public celebration, had 
passed before we arrived, yet the private ceremonies were liept up for several days. — This 
was the celebration of " El Nacimiento,''^ or the nativity of our Savior. It commences on 
Christmas eve, the night of the 21th of December ; is kept up with great splendor on the next 
(Christmas) day, and then, by many families, is prolonged even to the 14th of February. It 
is a great time among them for devotion, ostentation, and religious excitement. 

The church take care, on this day, to blend great amusement with the religious ceremOTiies. 
The whole is conducted thus : — On the 24th, the principal church at every town, and the capilla 
at every hacienda, is decorated and brilliantly lighted. The Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, 
Joseph, the manger, &c., &e., are placed in these churches, the first represented by images, 
and the last built up ; — sometimes wooden oxen are placed around, and looking-glasses, flow- 
ers and ornaments of every kind, are arranged, so as to produce the most brilliant eflect.. 

A large number of the inhabitants, senores and senoras, are selected to personify the Shep- 
herds, to whom the angel appears ; {see St. Luke, Id chapt., 9th verse) ; — they start off to hunt 
the infant Jesus, through the town. Other men personify the "wise men of the east," (S^ 
Mattheiv, 2d chapt., 2d verse), and they are searching around, having seen the "star."' These 
all find the infant in the church, and, much rejoiced, adore him ; and the wise men make 
speeches to him, got up for the occasion, and then ofTer their gifts, as set forth by the Evan- 
gelists. After this, amid the delighted throng, the image is taken up and baptised as Jesus 
Christ, one of the principal inhabitants standing as god-father to it, and then numerous gil'ts 
are left for the benefit of the child, (these, of course, go to the priests), and this ceremony ends 
jn the church. — All this is done on the night of the 24lh. 

The next day, (Christmas), great rejoicing takes place, on account of the birth of the Sa- 
vior, and at night a smaller " Nacimiento" is opened in almost every house ; — every one has 
a right to erect thus a sacred altar, or rather form of El Nacimiento, within liis domicil. The 
richer ones do this with great splendor. — A large table is spread out in one of the principal 
rooms, with many lighted candles upon it. — On this table is the image of the infant Jesus, 
made of wax, plaster, or such material, in a cradle, with those of the Virgin, Joseph, and oth- 
ers, around it, and as many other saints, &c., as they can procure. Pictures, ornaments, 
jn and gold foil, glasses, and everything that will make a display in the bright light, are ar- 
■^nged around. 

A young man, and the prettiest senorita in the family or connections, both richly dressed, 
stand by the table as the god-father and god-mother of the infant.— Upon this table are also 
piles of candy, fruits. Sec, which are all to be eaten at the conclusion of the ceremony. These 
" Nacimientos,^' so gorgeously arranged, are open to the inspection of any one in the streets, 
who has a perfect right to enter, look on the exhibition, and say his prayers to the little wax in- 
fant; and in order to add to the appearance, rockets are fired for the whole evening from 
the doorways. The expenses of the whole arrangement are paid by the fortunate young 
man, the god-father." 

After an exhibition of two or three hours, the scene closes for the night, but is opened in 
the same way on the next, and so on for eight nights, when, all over the city, and in fact 
through the nation, the '^ Nacimientos^' are raised, as they call it;— that is. the whole ends in a 
grand frolic, amid the discharge of many rock-ts.— The fruits, candies, cakes, &c., are dis- 
tributed to the company, and the little images put away to be ready for the same farce on the 
next year. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Fnday, January I5ih, 1847. A busy morning. — The bugles 
and numerous drums and fifes, on the clear, morning air, 
roused up the army early. — After a quick breakfast, Gen. 
Patterson's division, now consisting of four regiments : our 
own, of cav^alr}', Col. Thomas', the first and second Tennes- 
see infantry, under colonels Campbell and Haskell, all of 
Gen. Pillow's brigade, and the third Illinois, under Col. Fore- 
man, which last was with us before, and a company of artil- 
lery — struck their tents, and the wagons, being loaded, with 
the heavy train, commenced the march ; passing by the town, 
there turned to the left, took the road over the spur of the 
mountain, towards Tampico ; Gen. Twiggs' division of regu- 
lars, as before said, being one day in advance, and Gen. Quit- 
man to follow the next day, with his force, consisting of the 
fourth Illinois and Georgia regiments, the Baltimore batta- 
lion, and Captain Haynes' company of cavalry, the second 
time detached from the regiment; we saw no more of him, 
or of our comrades of his company, until our arrival near 
Tampico. 

Gen. Patterson took a detail from our regiment of twenty 
men and a sergeant, to ride with him, as his guard; and Gen. 
Pillow required a like detail of twelve men to attend him. — 
On Gen. Patterson's guard, the author was placed, on the 
march now commenced. — Attended by his guard, the general 
before following the column of troops, that, under Gen. Pil- 
low, were already on the road, went down to Gen. Taj'lor's 
camp, to bid him farewell. — The old general's quarters look- 
ed lonely ; of the thousands that were round him, yesterday, 
the lines of tents of May's dragoons were all that were left. 

(312) 



MARCH OF GEN. PATTERSON'S DIVISION. 343 

After the parting between the generals, we came up through 
the space, so lately crowded, now so deserted ; the camp fires 
were still smoking. — Many Mexicans, wrapped in their horon- 
gos, were stepping over the ground, collecting clothing, &c., 
but apparently fearful of taking it away, while any of us were 
yet near. — A little farther on, we came to a detail of our regi- 
ment, engaged in the melancholy duty of burying a comrade 
(James Brown, who died last night). — The general stopped 
at the grave, asked a few questions, and directed the men to 
put a few stones on its surface, to prevent it from being dis- 
turbed, and then we rode on towards the town. — Passing 
near, and leaving it to the right, we crossed the rocky stream, 
and took the road for Tampico. Now, this was, for miles, 
stretched out with troops, and the long train, of which, while 
the head was already over the first spur of the mountain, the 
rear had not yet left camp, where, also, the rear guard of 
cavalry, under Capt. Sneed, were drawn up, waiting, in pa- 
tience, for it to start. 

When ascending the first spur of the mountain, the view 
caught of the plain behind, was indeed most beautiful. — ■ 
It extended far down upon the town, and adjoining country? 
dotted with ranches, with bright groves of orange trees, and 
large fields of sugar cane, and interspersed by the hills of 
chapparal, which, from above, appeared level. — The scope of 
vision included a wide area of many miles along the foot 
of the rugged mountains, with their wild peaks above. — The 
town was immediately below, and one could see its whole 
length and breadth ; while the rocky brook meandered along, 
visible in its every turn, for miles. — Gen. Quitman's camp was 
in view, on the left; its many lines of tents looked small and 
white; far on the right, just visible, could be seen the few, 
of Gen. Taylor; while the long lines of our division and train 
winding up the ascent, and coming over the plain, were 
stretched back to the camp, and their movements gave anima- 
tion to the scene. — It was, altogether, one of the most beau- 
tiful and extensive mountain landscapes that any of us had 
ever gazed upon ; and it attracted universal attention. 

We passed up the spur, and on the top found it hilly for 
some miles. — The column of troops raised a heavy dust, to 



344 CAMP AT RIO DE FLORIS. 

avoid which, the general put his horse into a brisk canter, we 
following him closely. — We soon met Capt. Bragg, with his 
artillery, going back to Gen. Taylor.* 

Now, we will again enter upon the smaller incidents of 
the march. — We skirted the foot of the mountain during 
the day, through beautiful scenery, and at three P. M., the 
advance reached a pretty mountain stream, called Rio de 
Floris, (or river of flowers). — A rancho was near it on an emi- 
nence. — The water of the stream was clear, and ran with a 



* We saw our old general no more during the campaign ; he had hot work to do 
in less than six weeks after this, at Buena Vista ; for this movement and division of 
forces, became immediately known to Santa Anna, by the death of liieut. Ritchie, (wjio 
was lassoed at the town of Villa Grande, a few days before this), and the capture 
of his dispatches, which he was bringing ftom Monterey to Victoria. These were 
duplicates of those brought by Capt. Haynes, and were, by the Mexicans, imme- 
diately sent to Santa Anna, and he thus saw, at once, the position of the American 
forces, and that Gen. Taylor was left with a small army. — Here, then, was the oppor- 
tunity, by a sudden march, to rout that little army, and retake the whole valley of the 
Rio Grande. — Santa Anna had with him over twenty thousand men, and a large nunv 
ber of pieces of artilleiy, with abundance of material of war. His troops had the ut- 
most confidence in him, for he, as yet, had not been in the field during this war, and his 
former reputation was great with them. He had excited them, by his endeavors and 
speeches, to a pitch of enthusiasm, so that all were eager to march against the America- 
nos ; and many were the threats among his legions, that they would not leave an 
American alive. 

At San Iiouis Potosi, he received these dispatches, in less than a week after this 
time ; and, in two more weeks he had his powerful army in motion, marching to the 
north, towards Saltillo, to annihilate Gen. Taylor's little force. 

On the next day to that of our departure from Victoria, Gen. Taylor, with less tlian 
a thousand men, commenced his return march for Monterey. Of his departure, a 
friend, who was with Quitman's brigade, thus writes : 

" There was a general rush to see the old hero leave ; all his old soldiers, except the 
Mississippians, who went back with him, had departed for Tampico. — Every one seem- 
ed to be melancholy at the separation. — It was thought that all the fighting, all the honors, 
and all the laurels would be down on the coast, at Vera Cruz, and towards the Capi- 
tal. It looked, then, as if Old Zach. had been sent back to the rear, where he would have 
only to guard the country of the Rio Grande. — Little thought those who saw the old 
hero, as he quietly rode through the plaza and streets of Victoria, in a plain citizen's 
dress, with sonu late papers in his hand, carelessly sitting on his Alexican pony, and 
politely bidding adieu to all those who remained behind him, slowly followed by May's 
dragoons, Bragg's battery, and Davis' Mississippians, that ere another six weeks should 
roll around, he would stand on the bloody field of Buena Vista, at the head of a 
gallant little army, to triumph over Mexican veterans. Even that recall, that counter- 
mand, which then seemed almost like disgrace, soon aflbrded him an opportunity of 
covering himself with greater glory, than, in all his life before, he had won." 



CAMP AT RIO DE FLORIS. 345 

continual murmur over the rocks ; along its banks Vs-ere 
trees of rose-wood, lignum-vitse, and musquit of large size, 
and to our surprise, we saw also, several of our old acquain- 
tances, the sycamore ; the growth of which, we had left a 
thousand miles or more, to the north-east. — Difference of ele- 
vation, however, has the same effect on climate and growth 
of timber, as difference of latitude ; a thousand feet eleva- 
tion, in these regions, having as much effect, in producing 
coolness of air, as five hundred miles or more distance on 
the low plains towards the north would have. — Those men, 
who climbed these mountains at Victoria, say that the little 
rough appearance they present against the sky, is made by 
oak trees, both post and red, of considerable size ; but none 
of these grow down here, and we had not seen one for hun- 
dreds of miles back. 

The column of infantry soon began to come into camp, 
followed by the wagon train. The men were covered with 
dust, and it was caked on their sweaty faces, giving them 
an odd appearance. — Multitudes of them soon lined the 
banks of the creek, up and down, standing on the rocks, in 
the water, and washing their hands and faces in the clear 
stream,that rapidly coursed along. — Oneortwo had the luxury 
of a towel, that they had got from the Mexicans ; a very few 
had handkerchiefs, some a piece of an old tent, with which 
to wipe their faces after washing ; but the most had nothing 
of the kind, for their wardrobe was becoming scanty. These 
allowed the sun and fresh air to dry their faces and heads. 
— As their company wagons came in, their lines of tents 
went up, and before sunset all were in, and the little hills 
and hollows all around, were covered with busy life; and, 
after night, shone bright with many hundred fires. 

We, of the guard, twenty men, under Sergeant McKamy, 
soon found that we were placed in a different situation than 
before, and in a much better one, for we had no roll-calls, no 
guard to stand, nor any of the ordinary camp duties to per- 
form ; we drew our provisions by ourselves, as a separate 
company, and our forage in the same way. — We were in three 
messes, and our tents and mess bags were carried in one of 
the general's large wagons, all of which had good teams, and 



346 MISHAP TO GEN. PATTERSON. 

moved at the head of the train, behind the artillery, and con- 
sequently were always in camp the first at night ; our tents, 
therefore, were up quickly, and we had time to rest at even- 
ing. — We had not, either, to march in the dusty column bj'" 
day, for the general kept clear of that; often we would ride 
ahead, and rest in the shade, until the column came up. — 
Moreover, we always had the best possible position in camp 
at night, for water ; for the general, when coming on the 
ground, always selected his position on the upper part of the 
creek or river, when at one ; and beside this, we were not 
crowded for room ; for the body of the army was always pla- 
ced a short distance from his quarters, and our horses got a 
fine chance at the little grass that was to be fovmd along. — 
Not only so, but he allowed us to have our forage carried in 
one of his wagons ; thus taking much weight off our horses 
(and by a private bargain with one of his wagoners, who 
had a fine large wagon, six excellent mules, and a light load, 
we got our saddle-bags of clothing, &c., carried ; and not 
only so, but our blankets we wrapped up each morning, and 
stowed avi^ay in there also ; thus reducing the Aveight on our 
horses to ourselves and arms). — The effect of this was im- 
mediately perceptible in their movements and appearance. — 
Our duty was light, simply to keep our arms in first-rate order, 
and to assist at camping, in putting up the three marquees, 
&c., and in taking them down in the morning. — Our sergeant 
was an accommodating man, and we were as jovial as larks. 
Saturday, Jammry \Qth. The reveille was beat at an 
early hour, and the camp was lit up before day. — Hear- 
ing quite a confusion at the general's quarter, we went 
up there, being near. — There were many curious, natural 
holes in the rock about here, which we had noticed the 
last night ; they were round, like wells, and about ten or 
twelve feet deep. — Gen. Patterson, while walking around 
in the dark, preparator}^ to starting, fell into one of these, 
and went down, against the bottom, with such a concussion 
as deprived him of the power of making any exertion to 
get out. He lay there, a few moments, before he could 
call for help ; when his poA\'er of speech returned to him, 
however, he exercised it lustily, by calling for his Irish ser- 



LOSS OF A BOTTLE OF BRANDY. 347 

vant, Lawless. — Lawless heard the general's voice, rapidly 
calling him, but, from the nature of the sound, coming up out 
of the ground, he was for the moment, in the darkness, com- 
pletely unable to tell from which direction it came. He kept 
answering, however, and run around completely confused ; 
seizing a light, he at last struck the direction, and groped his 
way through a large bunch of cactus, that pierced him in an 
hundred places ; he cursed this, and answered the general's 
call in the same breath ; pushing through it, he saw the 
hole, and, extending the light over it, the general in the bot- 
tom. — Surprised, as he bent over, he called out, " And is it 
under the ground that ye are, gineral ? and what in the divil 
brought you here?" — " What brought me here? I fell here ; 
get me out," replied the general, in a passionate voice. — 
With the help of the aids, he was out before we got 
up there. He was much bruised, and his ancle severely 
sprained ; but after a little rest, was enabled to mount his 
horse, when the marquees were taken down, and the march 
was commenced. 

About this time, Lieut. Williams, one of the general's aids, 
w^as hunting in every direction for a bottle of brandy, which 
Avas taken out of the general's stores the night before, for his 
benefit and that of the aids ; but on account of the lateness 
of the hoar, had been laid by, still corked, for the morn- 
ing. — " Have you seen anything of a bottle of brandy about 
here ? " said he to the sergeant of the guard. — " Men, have 
you seen anything of a bottle of brandy about here?" 
shouted the sergeant, without answering directly the ques- 
tion of the aid. — The nearest man, still without answering, 
repeated the question to the others quickly, " I say, men, 
don't you hear the sergeant ; have you seen anything of a 
bottle of brandy about here ? " — " Bottle of what ? " inquired 
one or two. — Lieut. Williams replied aloud, and unea- 
sily, for there was a strong probability that he would lose 
his morning dram, "A bottle of brandy that the general 
brought from Philadelphia with him." — " Have you seen any- 
thing of the general's bottle of brandy?" called out several; 
and in an instant after another man, a little farther ofi', was 
heard at the same, but with a cough at first, and a hem ! — 



348 SEARCH FOR THE BRANDY. 

" Have you" — another hem! — " seen anything of the gene- 
ral's brandy, — hem ! — Charley ? " "I don't keep the general's 
brandy," replied he ; " I wish I did." The sergeant called 
out, " Look after it, men ; " and all went to looking, but 
could not find it in the darkness ; so they returned to sad- 
dling their horses, at which they were at first engaged. 

But all the time that this calling had been made, another con- 
versation had been carried on in whispers in the darkness : — 
" Drink quick, Jim ; don't you hear the lieutenant inquiring 
after it ?" "I will ; but it's so d-m-d strong," said Jim, as 
he bent behind his horse and drank, and then called out 
aloud, " Have you seen," &c. " Hand the bottle over here,' 
said Charley, in an earnest whisper ; — " Ha ! the best brandy 
I ever drank in my life. — Stop ! let me have another swal- 
low." — " Don't 3'^ou hear McKamy calling to us to look after 
it?" said another — " put it there by that rock ; we'll find it 
when we come back." 

The aid stormed and swore about the infantry sentinels, 
that had stood there in the night ; said he knew the company 
that they were detailed from, and he threatened all sorts of 
vengeance against them. " D-m it," said he to Col. Aber- 
crombie, the other aid, " there is nothing left but whisky, 
now, and I hate that." — The guard returned, and the bottle 
was passed around among a few whom they knew would 
not "blow;" and it might have been observed that morn- 
ing, that these were in excellent spirits. 

We struck out on the road, and marched several miles be- 
fore the sun became warm ; but when it did so, it was exces- 
sively hot. The road was very dusty. It lay for the whole 
march up and down the high mountainous spurs, and over 
bodies of good valley land, but with no habitations. — The 
general, being used up from the effects of his fall, and in 
much pain, was compelled to halt, and wait for the buggy 
of the surgeon of his staff", Dr. Wright. This was the only 
buggy in the army, and was very convenient for the doctor. 
While halted, we of the guard got round under the musquit 
bushes, for shade. There was no other growth in this dry 
valley, save the many varieties of the cactus, some of which 
have already been described. — The country here was covered 
with them. 



WATCHED BY PARTIES OF LANCERS. 349 

Some of the scenery passed over to-day, of hill and val- 
ley, was indeed striking. — From the top of the hills we were 
watched all day, closely, by parties of the enemy ; and some 
talk was among the boys of the prospect of a fight before 
long ; for there were so many of these parties, and some so 
numerous, that it was thought that the enemy might be 
crossing from Tula, on the west, to give us a trial ; but they 
molested us none. Captain Caswell made a chase after one 
party, on a high hill, but they saw him so far, coming through 
the valley, that they were off beyond the reach of pursuit, and 
that evening we saw no more of them. The spj'-glass showed 
more of these than we had an idea of without it, all lancers. 
It was provoking to the men, to see them far up on the 
heights, and know that it was useless to try to catch them. 

At four, P. M., after marching near twenty-five miles, we 
encamped near a pretty brook of bluish water, which afford- 
ed an abundant supply for the whole army. As it had been 
so very dusty to-day, another washing scene took place, after 
which all betook themselves to their supper and rest. — This 
encampment was on some hills covered with a scattered 
growth of large musquit trees ; with but little cactus. We 
of the guard found much grass for our horses. How the re- 
giment made out we knew not, for we went not to it, not 
knowing on what part of the ground it w^as.* 

Sunday , January I7ih. There is no Sabbath in camp ; one 
day is precisely like another, and it is with the greatest dif- 
ficulty that one can tell what day it is ; — in fact but few 
know ; — not one man in twenty can tell whether it is Sun- 
day or Thursday, Monday or Saturday ; they know not, nei- 
ther do they care. 

We were on the march early, the general riding in a little 

* When there are several regiments together, after encamping, there is not much 
running about. — One might ahnost as easily find a particular person in a city in which 
he was not acquainted, as to find him in a camp; he will have as many inquiries to 
make to do it ; — and, besides, men do not become so much acquainted as is, by many, 
supposed. A person will get acquainted with all his own company in two or three 
weeks, but not with all his regiment in as many months ; — if he does in six, he has 
a good faculty for making acquaintances ; — but with other regiments, he knows only a 
few. Soldiers get into the habit of staying in their own companies ; — not only so, 
bat they have a peculiar attachment to their own tents. 



350 MESAS OR TABLE LANDS. 

hospital wagon, in which he lay upon his back, being unable 
to sit up. The road lay over high hills, beautiful plains, 
and extensive valleys. The elevated range of mountains 
we were leaving to the right, where their massive peaks rose 
up against the western sky ; now, from distance, they ap- 
peared of a hazy blue. 

These hills, over which we passed this day and the day 
before, are indeed singular, — long and straight, ending ab- 
ruptly at either end ; the tops level as a line for the whole 
extent. They are called by the Mexicans mesas, or tables,, 
{see plate, pc/ge 356). When on them, some of them are found 
not to be of more than a few yards in width ; — to look 
up to them from the valley below, you would suppose a 
large plain on the top ; but when the steep ascent has 
taken you up perhaps eight hundred or a thousand feet, 
immediately you see far down into the opposite valley, 
directly before you. — Neither do these long hills run in 
any particular way ; they are thrown, as it were, in all di- 
rections, making all angles with each other, and enclosing 
fertile plains and valleys of every possible diversity of shape 
and appearance. The lover of beautiful landscape could 
here find enough, to give him full scope for admiration of 
changing scenes, for weeks. — These scenes are not so rugged 
and imposing as those of the main chain of mountains, 
but they are beautiful, and there is an endless variety of 
them. 

We had seen but few Mexican soldiers to-day, for the hills 
are more accessible, and if they had showed themselves, we 
would have had a better chance of catching them. — Some 
were on a high hill passed to the right, this morning. — In 
some of the valleys, we passed over large bodies of lava, 
though no mountain is now volcanic in this immediate vi- 
cinity. 

At nine o'clock, we came to a little brook, deep, and of 
good water. Here the general, after ascertaining from the 
Mexican guide, Valencia, that it was twenty-one miles to the 
next water, determined to encamp, and halted the advance. 
Col. Abercrombie directed us of the guard to encamp in 
the same beautiful grove that the general was to occupy, on 



SPORT OF THE INFANTRY. 351 

the bank of the creek. — The army soon came up and en- 
camped. 

We had now nearly the whole day before us, in which to 
do as we pleased. — The general's tents, and our own, were 
soon up, and some of the guard went hunting, as did many 
of the infantry. — They covered, in crowds, the high hills 
around, and wandered about nearly all the day ; many of 
them endeavoring to shoot Mexicans, not content with deer 
and turkeys ; — but they were unsuccessful ; for, although they 
came in view of those in the distance, they could not come 
up with them. — We had passed no habitations during the 
day, and the country was entirely wild, and there were some 
deer and many turkeys ; — monkeys and apes, the Mexicans 
told us, were in numbers in the hills. — In a few hours, the 
boys returned ; — they had killed a few turkeys and deer. 

There was much fun and sport going on among the troops 
during the day. — The infantry have become so accustomed 
to marching, that they do not mind it at all. The second 
Tennessee regiment appears to be the liveliest, although all 
are enough so ; but their pranks are innumerable. If there 
are any cattle within miles of the camp, they are sure of 
having them ; and not only so, but Mexicans stand a poor 
chance with them , for, having some of their men murdered 
and shockingly mutilated, near Camargo, w^hen they first 
came to the country, they have since had a hatred against 
the class that perpetrated these murders, and have paid 
them in their own coin, sending many of them to their "long 
home." — The first Tennessee is much smaller in number 
than the second, having been much cut up at Monterey ; but 
they are still an efficient body. 

Sometimes, when, before day, the reveille beats, after it 
is done, a great number commence to crow for the dawn, 
and then, all over the camp, such an universal crowing 
takes place, that one would think that all the chicken cocks 
in the country were collected, and endeavoring to outdo each 
other. — There was a single little dog, that belonged to one 
of the infantry, and which accompanied the march. When- 
ever, in the morning, on the march, he made his appearance, 
he was received with a yell that frightened the poor little 



352 SCENERY IN THE MESAS. 

fellow almost out of his life; — tucking his tail between his 
legs, he fled as fast as his feet could carry him, but always 
took the road ; and as he passed company after company, 
moving on, the yell was kept up, until he had cleared the in- 
fantry, and taken refuge with the horses of the cavalry. — 
Every morning he is thus greeted. 

We came to a new species of palm tree, called, by the 
Mexicans, pal /fictto del sol, or sun palm, [see plate, page 356). — 
It is a singular tree, — large at the bottom of the trunk, of a 
spongy texture of wood, rough bark, and but few branches ; 
each one of them surmounted by a bunch of large, grass-like 
blades, which hang down. — These are preferred by the Me - 
leans to all other, for the purpose of making hats, or som- 
breros. 

On the ground that we occupied this night. Gen. Twiggs 
encamped the night before, and Gen. Quitman oh the next 
following. Both the camps of these divisions could plainly 
be seen with the glass this evening, from the top of the high 
rocky hill overlooking ours. 

January I8th. As usual now, we were upon the march be- 
fore day. — When the sun arose, it revealed to us a succession 
of beautiful scenery. Far on the right appeared the lofty 
chain of mountains, which, by our course, south-east, we 
were gradually leaving ; this range here running about 
south. On the left, too, far in the distance, another range 
of lofty irregular peaks, rose up. Between these, the exten- 
sive valley was filled by the high, flat-topped hills, or mesas, 
mentioned before, thrown promiscuously around, in its vast 
extent. Fleecy clouds, of dazzling whiteness in the sun, 
rolled around the mountains and enveloped the tops of these 
hills, clinging to them, as it were, by one part, and the other 
floating buoyantly olT from them in the still air ; but after the 
sun became hot, the clouds vanished, and the whole scene, in 
vast extent, in the embrace of the mountains, was below. — 
The road, as before, lay up and down these hills, and over 
beautiful plains. — We now came to many palm trees, which, 
singly and in groves, were seen for the remainder of the 
route. — This, with the cactys gigantea, the sun palm, the 
sword palmetto, the prickly pear, rose-wood, ebony, lignum- 



CAMP ON RIO FOLLON- 353 

vita3, musquit, and an infinite variety of other cactus, were 
the growth now met with, for several days in succession. 
For the appearance of the first five, see plate, page 356. 

In the middle of the day it became so dusty, that one could 
hardly see across the road, which appeared, in many places^ 
like a long bed of dry ashes. — At noon we came to a rancho, 
the houses of which were built of stone, and white-washed, 
and were much neater than others that we had seen. Here the 
contractors stopped to procure beef for the night; and many 
of the men obtained from the peones peloncillas of about a 
pound and a half weight of good sugar, for a medio, or pica- 
yune each, — Beyond this rancho, we descended a rocky hill, 
and came to the Rio de Lemon. (So called on Arista's map, 
but by the inhabitants called Rio FoUon. It flows to the 
southward, and runs into the river Panuco). This beauti- 
ful, rapid stream, we immediately forded, followed by the 
infantry, artillery, and train ; all of which got a good wash- 
ing off; the water talcing the infantry nearly to their arm- 
pits. 

After crossing, the general determined to continue on far- 
ther, and we followed the river down about seven miles, and 
encamped along the road. The musquit trees, on either hand, 
were so thick, that the division was much cramped for want 
of room. — The tents were soon up, and it being close to the 
river, every one who could raise a line and hook, went a fish- 
ing in the deep stream ; which here was quiet, of gentle cur- 
rent, and deep ; though falling above in large cascades, over 
massive rocks. It was stocked with catfish, and the finest 
perch ; and many of the men caught large strings of them. 

Mexican lancers have been during the day, hanging round, 
us, but have kept off far; or else, when near, were so con- 
cealed, in the thickets, that we did not perceive them. — We 
passed to-day, three large crosses by the side of the road, each, 
with a pile of small stones around it ; two of them were old 
and decaying ; the other was firm, and had been erected at a. 
later date ; it had, upon the cross-bar these words, in red 
paint : " Un Ave-Maria, un Padre nuestro por la alma de Juaw 
Gonzales, que estaba matado el 25 de Abril, de 1842." (One: 
prayer to the Virgin Mary, one Lord's prayer, for the soul of 
23 



354 CROSSES OVER THE MURDERED. 

Juan Gonzales, who was murdered on the 25th of April 
1842.) We had often seen these crosses and piles of stones 
before, and we met them often, by the highways, afterwards ; 
but few of the men, however, made any inquiry into the 
reason of their erection ; many passed along, thinking them 
to be sign-posts ! — Whenever a Mexican is murdered, one of 
these is put up, by the people of the neighborhood, on the 
ground where the blood is spilled, and the soul departs ; and 
the reason is this : as such a person died without confession 
to the priest, or absolution given of his sins, or partaking of 
the sacrament ; and without the extreme unction, or anoint- 
ing with the holy oil ; — all of which are administered to a 
dying man, — he consequently goes directly into purgatory, 
with his sins upon his head, unabsolved, unanointed, unsanc- 
tified ; and, consequently, in a most terrible situation ; and, 
therefore, these crosses are erected, calling on all passers-by 
to say these prayers for that soul, in order that the intense 
suffering, consequent upon entering purgatory in such a con- 
dition, may be alleviated ; for they quote from the Bible, that 
the " prayers of the righteous availeth much," and a large 
number of these prayers, they believe, will induce the Vir- 
gin Mary to use her intercession with our Saviour, to have 
such a soul placed in a better situation. 

Each pious " cristiano, " as they call themselves, that 
passes, turns to the cross, says over the prayers, and in to- 
ken thereof, places a small stone on the heap there accumu- 
lating. These heaps are never disturbed ; not even a boy 
can be found that will take off from the pile one of the little 
stones that has been blessed with a prayer ; but rather, he, 
also, in turn, stops, says his prayer, and adds another stone. 
— The women never neglect it, and the author was informed, 
by a gentleman who had long resided in Mexico, that the 
largest pile he had ever seen there, was placed almost en- 
tirely by women ; and this appeared the more singular, as the 
object of their solicitude was killed by an injured husband 
in public ! — Distance marched this day, about twenty-five 
miles. 

January 19th. At an early hour we were on the route, and 
marched five miles by the time it was well light. That dis- 



CROSSING OF THE RIO FOLLON. 355 

tance brought us to the Lemon or FoUon river again, which 
we immediately forded, and the infantry got another wetting, 
which was not very agreeable to them, for it was too 
early in the day. It was amusing to look back from the 
bank opposite, and see them crossing, and hear their noise 
and yells. We thought the Illinoisans made noise and fun 
enough about such fordings, but the Tennesseeans made 
the more. The water run off from all when they got over; 
but they did not mind the wetting, save some who did not 
succeed in keeping their crackers dry. — There was a rancho 
on the top of the hill, with many houses. 

While on this bank, one of the beef contractors, named 
Bigelow, found occasion to go back, to the rancho mentioned 
yesterday, twelve miles, to see about the supply of beef to 
be furnished to Quitman's Brigade, for the night. He was 
warned not to do it ; but mounting his splendid horse, he de- 
termined to try it, and away he went.* 

After crossing the Follon, the hills became lower, and 
the mountains were but just discernible on the distant ho- 
rizon in the rear. We now passed over a beautiful country 
of hills and rolling plains, with more grass than we had 
before seen in several weeks ; groves of the palm tree were 
here and there, scattered over the face of the country. 

About three, P. M., after a pleasant march of twenty- two 
miles, we encamped on the banks of a pretty brook, and the 
general selecting his quarters under the foliage of a large 
rose-wood tree, surrounded by others of thick shade, Col. 
Abercrombie appointed to us our place about fifty yards from 
him, under a shade equally pleasant, and so thick that we 

* He passed the wagon train, not yet all crossed, then the rear guard. — Before he 
got to the encampment just left, a party of Mexican cavalry filed into the road before 
him. — He was about to turn back, when he saw a large number behind him ; — then 
putting spurs to his noble horse, he broke through the front line, and, amid the volley 
fired at him, received but one ball, which shattered his right leg below the knee ; but 
he kept his seat, while they pursued him back over the Follon, and by the rancho 
spoken of, until he came in view of part of Capt. Haynes' company, under Lieut. 
Chamblis, the advance guard of Quitman's division. He was immediately placed in 
the hospital wagon, and made the rest of the march in that way, being unable to walk 
for many weeks afterward. 



356 LA PALMA BENDITA. 

concluded not to put up our tents, but to fix our sleeping- 
places in this, a sort of natural arbor. 

The general's marquees were soon up, and we sat down 
to conversation, having nothing else to do, save to watch 
the long lines of cavalry and infantry, followed by the wa- 
gon train, that were coming down over the beautiful hills, 
towards the camp, as they continually arrived. — Col. Aber- 
crombie came down to us, and asked if any one would cut 
down a large palm tree that stood near, a most majestic ob- 
ject; to oblige him, as he wished to examine the " cabbage," 
or tender wrapping of the buts of the leaves, at the top of 
the trunk, which cabbage the Mexicans here eat, and pro- 
nounce it fine. A dozen men instantly offered to serve the 
colonel, (who, having the power to command, chose, rather, 
in such a case, to request), and procuring axes, the noble 
tree was soon stretched on the ground. Its leaves were ta- 
ken ofi" from the body, and the top of this cut off*. After strip- 
ping the tough outside covering off", the inside was found 
white and tender, and somewhat like a cabbage ; this, however, 
was small, not weighing more than seven or eight pounds. 
(We afterwards found these " cabbages " to sell in the mar- 
kets of Tampico, and other places). — For the appearance of 
this tree, and those of others which have been mentioned as 
growing about here, see the plate opposite,* where it is 
numbered 2. 

The others, 1, 3, 4, 5, have been mentioned before, in this 
work. This palm is connected with one of the religious 
ceremonies of this people, which we will mention. The 
tree is called, by the Mexicans, in distinction from all others 
of the palm kind, la palma bcndita, or the blessed palm. — 
(Valencia, our Mexican guide, said that this was the tree 

* This plate, showing most accurately the appearance of the plants and trees, was 
drawn upon the ground by the author. A single cavalry soldier was placed in the 
foreground, to show, by comparison, the height of the trees ; and the engraver was 
directed to copy these in every hue, and moreover, to place a small scouting party in 
the back ground. To the author's surprise, when the picture was completed, he found 
that the engraver had put in the scouting party, but had set them all to cooking ; and the 
volumes of smoke inserted, would convey the idea that the scouts were more anxious 
for their dinner, than to catch the enemy, that, at this place, were hanging so thickly 
around us. This is wrong ; and the reader will therefore, in imagination, put out the 



PALM SUNDAY. 359 

whose branches were broken off and strewed in the way of 
our Saviour, in his entry into Jerusalem, mentioned by the 
evangelists, and that, on this account, it was since prized by 
Christians. This may be the opinion {St. John, chap. 12, 
verse 13,) taught them by the priests, and probably is. — It 
was the only reason that the author received, for the custom 
of blessing the leaves, on Palm Sunday). — Palm Sunday is a 
festival kept by all the population of Mexico. It comes on, 
or near the 27th of March, of each year.— On that day, the 
people, in their holiday dresses, take bunches of the large 
leaves of this tree, and carry them to the priests, who, in 
a formal and solemn manner, bless them, thus making them 
sacred. They are then taken home, torn up into strips, 
and plaited in numberless beautiful forms ; every one has a 
cross worked in it, trimmed with ornaments of ribbon, &c., and 
sent as presents. They are from friend to friend, from young 
to old, and the contrary, and especially passed between the 
young of both sexes, as sacred tokens of love. Crosses are 
plaited, of the same material, Etnd put up over the windows 
and doors of each house, and these so guarded, cannot be 
entered by Satan, or any of his evil spirits. — On this day is 
general rejoicing, and all are made holy. The priests, in 
the morning, consecrate, in every church, a large quantity 
of holy water, called agua bendita, which is sent for by all 
persons, drank, and used for sickness — with great success, 
they say. No wonder, then, that the Mexicans regard la 
pdma bendita with attachment, and call it "blessed." 

The whole of this tree is not shown in the picture, but 
enough is visible to show its form and beauty. A diamond 
shaped net-work, composed of the buts of the older leaves, 
which have fallen off, sometimes descends half way down 

engraver's fire, and place the party in a position of vigilance. — The soldier in front, 
also, though dressed correctly, and having all right about him, has, by the engraver's 
command, taken off his sword and cartridge box, and set them up against that sun 
palm, together with his gun, which, too, the engraver has cut, not a carbine, but rather 
a fowling piece. This is incorrect : for no scout was caught in this fix. — His holsters 
are right, but his sword should be upon his side, and his carbine slung to his shoulder, 
or in his hand, ready to act in an instant. — Owing to these mistakes, the author 
would not have inserted this picture, but for the remarkable correctness of the trees 
and plants which it represents, and the excellent workmanship of the whole cut. 



3G0 USE OF PLANTS SEEN IN PLATE. 

the trunk ; in this one, however, but little of it can be seen, 
directly under the leaves, at the top of the visible part of the 
trunk. 

The column-like cactus, growing up under the tree, marked 
(No. 1) beneath, is called by the Mexicans, la cactus gigantea, 
or more commonly, brazos de Alexandra (arms of Alexander); 
it bears a fruit, something in shape, like a pear. 

The trunk of the sword palmetto, (No. 3) is only used for 
posts for fences; gardens and yards being enclosed with 
them, when split, and set to one another, like pickets. The 
root of this is called amole; is soft and juicy, and rubbed upon 
clothing, is used for soap ; and is effectual in removing dirt 
and stains ; in many sections, this tree is known by the 
name of the soap-plant; and was so called by some of our 
soldiers. 

The palmetto del sol, or palm of the sun (No. 4,) is used 
only as said before, for making sombreros (hats) and little 
baskets. 

The prickly pear is part of their national emblem, and can 
be seen on every Mexican dollar, under the eagle. — The use 
made of it in this section, is to feed their mules and cattle 
on, when there is no grass. To do this, they cut it down, and 
making a fire of brush, throw the thick leaves into it, which 
half roasts them, and burns the needles off; — in this state it 
is eaten greedily by their animals. It is also used when 
thus roasted, to cure wounds and bruises upon their mules 
and horses, and for that purpose, is very effectual. Farther 
south, it feeds the cochineal insect, which is so valuable for 
dyeing. — Two flat-topped hills, such as we had been passing 
over for some days before this, are in the back ground. 

In the camp, this evening, we had quite a scene, occasioned 
by the dry grass taking fire ; and this spread with great ra- 
pidity, scorching and snapping, among the prickly pear ; it 
gave quick employment to hundreds, to extinguish it ; which, 
in the camp, was done without much labor, but, outside of 
that, it ran for miles, and could be seen by its light, after 
dark. — On the trees round the camp, and in the thickets, were 
numbers of the guano, a new species of animal to us. They 
are of the lizard family; — one kind were jet black in color; 



DIFFERENT SPECIES OF GUANOS. 361 

the body of one of these was about a foot long, and the tail 
as much longer ; legs like a lizard, but large in proportion to 
the body ; sharp teeth, bright eyes, and very long, keen claws ; 
from the head a row of black bristles ran along the back ; 
the remainder of the surface was naked, and of a shining 
black; the stout tail was covered with knotty projections; 
taking them altogether, this kind were ugly looking "var- 
mints." — Another kind was more pleasing to the eye, but still 
as singular in shape; their color was green; the body of one 
about four inches long; had a high, flat crest on the head; 
with the tail slender, and nearly two feet in length : giving 
the animal the appearance of a green snake, with a large 
head, and four legs near to it. They were all extremely 
agile, and run over the ground and up the trees, with sur- 
prising quickness. Col. Campbell, of the first Tennessee, 
had caught one near his tent, of this latter kind ; and we ex- 
amined it closely. — Our Mexican guide, Valencia, informed 
us, that there were many kinds of them in this part of the 
country ; that all were harmless, save the large black ones, 
which bite severely. 

Gen. Patterson sent on a detachment of our regiment of 
cavalry, to an hacienda ahead, to procure corn ; for the sup- 
ply in the train was about giving out. These were to re- 
main at the hacienda until we came up. — We had gained, 
this day, five miles on Gen. Twiggs ; he encamping last night 
that distance in our rear, and passing over this ground to- 
day. 

Jammry 20th. The reveille was beat, fires lit up, break- 
fasts finished, wagons loaded, and all were on the march by 
daylight. The infantry, as we passed them, were, from one 
end of the line to the other, enjoying their usual amount of 
fun and sport, as they marched on. — The road lay over ex- 
tensive, open valleys ; grassy, and with, here and there among 
them, thick groves of timber ; and then, again, nothing for 
miles, save dry grass, and, occasionally, a musquit bush. — 
There were many rocky hills on the first part of the day's 
march. — Nine miles distance brought us to the hacienda of 
Alomita, (or little cottonwood). Some few small trees of Cot- 
tonwood grew on the bank of the stream, that flowed along 



362 HACIENDA OF ALOMITA. 

the base of the hill upon which the hacienda is situated. — We 
crossed the stream, toiled up the hill, and entered the town ; 
(for the collection of houses of the peones of the estate, made 
quite a town). Here w^e found the company of cavalry that 
had been sent on by the general last night. They and their 
horses had fared sumptuously, by command of the owner of 
the hacienda, Don Juan Cardonas — the fairest complexioned 
Mexican we had seen ; affable, polite ; a gentleman in ap- 
pearance, and a prince in estate. When he heard that Gen. 
Patterson had come in, — which was earlier in the morning 
than he expected — for the general, taking only the guard 
with him, had left the advance of the army three miles 
back, — he came out in a hurry to meet him ; was very anx- 
ious to have him alight, and take a cup of coffee, &c. ; but 
Patterson could not do it. He only wanted corn ; and the 
demand was made for it, and a reasonable price offered. — 
(Gen. Patterson had improved in this respect, of attending to 
the wants of horses as of men, since he had been with old 
Zach. again ; and, on this march to Tampico, we had no rea- 
son to complain, for want of forage.) — We remained halted, 
at the edge of the square or plaza of the hacienda, while 
the general and the "don" made their arrangements, by 
means of an interpreter, Selby, an American who accom- 
panied us. Don Juan was a man who had traveled much, 
and knew a little English. 

We were struck with the population of his hacienda, which 
could not have been less than twelve or fifteen hundred. — 
The large buildings for himself, his administrador, or overseer, 
officers, &c., called la casa grande ; were built of stone, and 
occupied two sides of the large square : — part of one side 
was occupied by the church, which was not a capilla, like 
the other haciendas, but a parochia, in which a curate offi- 
ciated, having ecclesiastical jurisdiction over all the capillas 
in the surrounding country, comprehended in the limits of 
his curacy. The parochia was finely built of stone, and a 
great profusion of carved work, of large proportions, covered 
its front towards the squai'e. Three heavy bells were in its 
tower, and in religious convenience, the people of this haci- 
enda seemed to be as well accommodated as though they 



SUPPLY OF CORN FROM HACIENDA. 363 

were in a city. The curate, with his long black robe, and 
three-cornered cap, walked out to the corner, and politely- 
touched his hat to the guard, with the expression " Buenos 
dias Sehorcs.'''' He had a good-humored, intelligent counte- 
nance, pleasant appearance, and seemed in no ways alarmed 
or disconcerted at our presence ; but on the contrary, all 
the time he was there, he seemed to be interested in us ; and 
especially his attention was taken by the size of the horses. 
One of his tenientes, or under priests, was with him, and for 
a few moments they carried on a brisk conversation, and 
passed back toward la casa grande. 

Their conduct was quite a contrast to that of the capillan, 
mentioned on January 4th, who, as we appeared in sight, 
opened the ceremony of " nucstro Scfio?^ esta patented'' and by 
the dismal tolling of the bell, set the whole populace of the 
hacienda, wherever they w^ere scattered vi^ithin the sound, to 
crossing themselves, and praying earnestly to the saints for 
deliverance. 

This valley adjoining the town, (for so we might call the 
hacienda), spread out, below the crossing of the road, into a 
spacious area, which was watered by ditches that diverted 
the water from the brook ; — this valley was very fertile and 
productive,* and cultivated with care. Don Juan promised 
the general immediately to send a large number of his pe- 
ones into this valley and gather one piece of corn, (which 
contained about fifty acres), and have it shelled out in season 
for the wagons to take this evening. He was to receive one 
dollar and twenty-five cents per fanega, nearly two bushels. 
(This seemed a heavy job, but with the force he had, he ea- 
sily accomplished it). 

Although this town was so large, yet it was but part of 



* Immense tracts of land, fertile in quality of soil, are left entirely uncultivated in 
Mexico, in every part, for the want of water upon them. As a general rule, no land 
is fit to cultivate, save that which can be watered by ditches ; for the long dry season 
parches every other. Many tracts of these uncultivated regions, however, afford, du- 
ring the rainy season, and for some time afterward, excellent grass for pasturage; — 
other immense bodies, about in the mountains, are perfectly bare ; and where so, no 
animal lives. Where water is plenty, as was the case from Victoria to Tampico, at 
every few miles distance, some deer and other wild animals are found. The hacien- 
das and ranchos are only on or near the streams. 



364 EXTENT OF HACIENDA. 

the domain of Don Juan. — On a high hill, far to the north, 
was another town to be seen ; — this, too, was part of the 
same hacienda.* 

The head of the cavalry had come up to the town daring 
the time in which this arrangement was going on, and the 
general, followed by us, moved ahead. 

He gave permission for one out of each of the three 
messes in the guard to leave the lines to hunt ; with the cau- 
tion, however, to look out for the lancers, a body of whom, 
we had learned, were in the vicinity, and had remained at 
this hacienda two nights before. — Three men went ; but two 
of them soon returned ; — the other one we saw no more of 
until night. — We found the hills now spreading out in an 
undulating surface, beautiful to the eye, with, here and there, 
groves of la palma bendita, musquit, sword palmetto, &c. 
At other places, there was nothing on them but grass. 

The range of mountains were now at a great distance in 
the rear ; the mesas, or flat-topped hills had disappeared ; — 
but we were nearing the lofty isolated peak of Mont Ber- 
nal, which was to our front and right, to the southward of 
our route, as we passed down toward the coast. — Eighteen 
miles march from Alomita brought us to a pretty creek, 
with high banks, at which Gen. Twiggs had encamped the 
night before : the general crossed the creek, and selected the 
place for his marquees ; and our situation was appointed 
near. The regiment of cavalry followed, and encamped 

• These haciendas are on tracts of land granted, in former times, to particular indi- 
viduals, by the king of Spain. — No actual surveys were made, but the boundaries were 
designated by the points in view, and the principal intention being, fully to cover the 
water courses. They are described in the grant, somewhat in this way : — " Beginning at 
the crest of such a mountain named, at the commencement of its descent ; running about 
such a course, towards another mountain named, so many hours' or days' ride ; — 
thence towards another mountain, about such a course, to the mountain, or so many- 
hours' ride ; " and so on through the whole. Notwithstanding the vagueness of the 
boundaries, few disputes arise, because they are almost always bounded by dry tracts, 
of no value. 

These haciendas are often very large, some of them taking in a thousand or more of 
square miles. When one is sold, the original grant from the king of Spain is assigned 
over to the purchaser, accompanied by another instrument containing the indebtedness 
of each peon on it, and these are also passed over, and the peones labor for the new 
master as they did for the old. 



SLIGHT ATTACK BY LANCERS. ' 365 

on the opposite side of the creek ; while the three regi- 
ments of infantry crossed it. The wagon train was on both 
sides. 

In the evening our mess-mate, R. S. Courteney, came 
in, his horse dripping with sweat. — He had been chased 
over hill and valley, for some distance, by several lancers, 
who only desisted when coming on a hill in view of 
the army. The speed of his horse saved him. — Courteney 
thought he had made a narrow escape, and at night he pat- 
ted his horse, rubbed him, and talked to him, as though he 
thought that the animal could understand his words. — (The 
lancers this day attacked the rear of Gen. Quitman's brigade. 
They only killed one man, however, and took another pris- 
oner, when they were dispersed by some of Captain Haynes' 
company, of our regiment, now with that brigade). 

Much anxiety was felt in company G, of the cavalry, for 
the safety of two men, corporal Rhoton and private N. W. 
Ragland, who left the lines to scout and hunt, and had not 
come up at night.* — Distance marched this day, twenty- 
seven miles. 

TJmrsday, January 2\st. We resumed the march at an 
early hour. — We had now come down into an extensive 
rolling prairie, covered with grass, but mostly dead ; — the 
mountains still faintly visible in the distance, in the rear ; 
but on the right, over a great distance of rolling prairie, the 
mountain of Bernal raised its lofty peak above the clouds, 
and stood out alone, a massive, noble object, overlooking the 
whole country. It rose gradually, for a long distance, and 
then, as it were, suddenly shot its vast bulk upwards, nearly 
perpendicularly ; appearing, from its very loneliness, the 
more imposing. — Its summit was rent and seamed, and it 
presented every appearance of an extinct volcano {See plate 

' * The next day, Capt. Sneed, of company G, sent back four men, to look for the lost 
two ; hut the day passed away, the march was made, and none had come up at the 
succeeding morning. The company was halted, and half remained at camp, while the 
other half went back for the six, and were fortunate enough to find them ; — the four 
had found the lost two, and were bringing them up. The Mexicans had not seen 
them, being deterred from coming near the road by Quitman's brigade advancing.— 
The company was reunited, and all joined the regiment the succeeding day. 



366 HACIENDA OF CHOCOI. 

jpage 368). — We passed over the rolling lands of fine soil, but 
dry, with much grass upon them, on which large droves of 
horses, mules, and cattle were feeding ; and at ten A. M., 
after a march of twenty-one miles, we arrived at the hacienda 
of Chocoi ; after passing on the route, several ranchos, and 
much cultivated land, enclosed with brush fences. 

We halted a little while in front of la casa grande (the own- 
er's house), on a sort of square, and then proceeded on near 
the tanque, or artificial pond of water, for the use of the ha- 
cienda ; here, turning to the right, we passed down a gentle 
slope along a fence of musquit sticks and brush, and the gen- 
eral selected his quarters under the shade of some lignum- 
vitse and rose-wood trees, in the little valley, while our posi- 
tion, by the aid, was appointed to us, up a little higher, near 
the musquit fence. 

The cavalry soon came in, in long columns, and filed to 
the left of the hacienda, encamping in and about the ex- 
tended lots. — The infantry regiments folloM'-ed ; and their 
position was assigned in the middle space, on the bare 
knolls, and around the tanque ; while most of the wagon 
train drew up in long lines between the general and the 
infantry. — As usual, two hours, or more, elapsed, before the 
rear guard made its appearance ; and shortly after that, the 
tents were all up, in every direction, and all were busy in the 
camp, which immediately appeared as though it had been 
occupied a month or more. 

Wood was scarce ; plenty of green lignum-vitge, on the 
little hills on the right — this, in its outside appearance of 
bark, resembles hickory ; but did not burn like it, — for one 
might as well attempt to burn a brick, as a piece of it green. 
— The men of the guard being obliged to have fuel, pulled 
up some of the stakes, and burned a little of the brush of the 
old fence. It was amusing to see them watch the general's 
quarters, while they collected enough of this for fires ; which 
they knew would expose them to severe punishment, if found 
out; but hunger, and the want of fuel to get their meals, 
made them run all risks. — (It has not been mentioned, that 
dry musquit makes as good a fire as our best hickory, and 
that it burns freely, and with intense heat, and yet lasts well, 



DON KAMON PRIETO. 367 

being close grained and heavy ; so much so, that when a dry 
and sound piece is lifted, and struck with a quick blow, it 
has a peculiar, short, ringing sound, somewhat like that of 
metal). 

This hacienda of Chocoi was not as large as that of Alo- 
mita ; not having, according to appearances, more than 
a hundred or two peones ; though the number of these is not 
easily estimated, they being stowed so thickly in the rude 
buildings, and many living about in la casa grande. — The 
owner, Don Ramon Prieto, v/as a man of the old Spanish 
blood, light in complexion, and gentlemanly in appearance ; 
he had traveled much in the United States, and in England, 
and spoke the English language pretty well, as also did his 
son, who had spent some time at school in Philadelphia. — 
"Whenever we came across these higher order of Mexicans, 
who have resided or visited in the United States, we found 
them quite friendly, and apparently attached to our country, 
and also to our customs ; though not so much so, as to make 
them alter their own very materially. — As an instance of this 
the don of this hacienda still had his old fashioned Spanish 
carriage, in preference to one of our style. 

This old carriage, of the kind used altogether in the inte- 
rior, is worth a description, from its singular shape and ap- 
pearance, and as it excited much curiosity in those who walk- 
ed up to the casa grande, where it stood under the large piazza. 
The hind wheels were large and strong, about five and a half 
feet in diameter; the fore ones stout, but low, not being more 
than two and a half feet ; the axles were both very heavy, as 
also was the high bolster on the fore one ; two large pieces, 
looking like small timbers for a house, ran from the hind 
axle-trees to the bolster, and connected the two ; two 
heavy uprights stood from the hind axle, and corresponding 
two from the bolster ; these had cross pieces equally large, 
and carved ; all this made the frame ; stouter and heavier 
than that of any six horse wagon, larger also ; for the width 
between the wheels or track, was about eight feet and a half, 
and from the fore axle to the hind one, between eleven and 
twelve feet. — The reader can judge what a cumbrous frame 
this was ; but the body supported by it, was not larger than 



368 THE DON'S OLD SPANISH CARRIAGE. 

that of one of our common carriages, seating only six per- 
sons on the two seats ; this body was hung on huge leather 
braces, that passed, from the cross piece on the fore axle, to 
that over the hind one ; of course the fore wheels were before 
the carriage, and the hind ones as much behind it. The har- 
ness was cumbrous, heavy, loaded with brass, and had heavy 
coverings or bags for the tails of the mules. Seven were 
harnessed to the heavy carriage : two at the wheels, then 
three abreast, then two more, with three riders along, there 
being no driver. 

January 22d. We, of the guard, were roused about mid- 
night, by one of our men, who dreamed that it was day,, 
made up a large fire, and waking us, soon set us all to 
cooking, when we found that it was not near daylight ; and,, 
on coming out of the bushes, we saw that each of the regi- 
ments around, were all asleep but the sentinels. — However, 
we finished our breakfast, fed our horses, wrapped ourselves 
in our blankets, and again lay down to sleep, with some mut- 
tered exclamations against the wakefulness of our old mess- 
mate. — We slept but little, however. — We were again awa- 
kened by the reveille. — In a few moments all were in motion ; 
the roll calls of every company were called ; the fires were 
kindled, breakfast dispatched, tents down, and in the wagons ; 
and all were on the march by daylight, save company G, of 
the cavalry, which halted, as before mentioned, (in note), tO' 
hunt up its missing members. 

Gen. Patterson had now determined to go to Tampico in 
two days, though it was three days' march for the troops ; 
and, this morning, he detached two companies of the cav- 
alry, — Capt. Caswell's and Lieut. Lacy's,* — to go with him ; 
and, taking the guard, with these he set out, leaving the di- 
vision under the command of Gen. Pillow. — Gen. Patterson 
was still unable to ride on horseback, and continued in the 
wagon, which could not be driven very rapidly. — The de- 

* This is the company mentioned before as Capt. Lenow's. That officer returned 
from Matamoras home, on furlough, and while there, declining to return to the war, 
sent back his resignation. The command then fell on the first lieutenant for the re- 
mainder of the campaign, and he discharged its duties with honor to himself and sat-- 
isfaotion to his company. 




24 



MOUNTAIN OF BERNAL. 371 

tachment, therefore, did not gain much on the division com- 
ing behind, for some hours. — The mountain of Bernal was 
still upon our right ; a view of which, as well as of an at- 
ajo,* (drove of pack mules), with their accompanying arrie- 
ros, or drivers, that we met near this place, may be seen on 
the opposite page. 

After proceeding about fourteen miles, over a beautiful, 
undulating country, of rich soil, but with no inhabitants, with 

ATAJOS, AHRIBROS, MERCHAKTS, AND CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICEHS Ili MEXICO. 

• As we met these continually on the marches, and as little has been said about 
them, and as the whole internal commerce of Mexico is carried on by means of these 
arrieros, or muleteers, supplying the place of rail roads, canals, and wagons in our 
country, and as, throughout the country, as well as in old Spain, the same system is 
pursued, an account of this class of people will be found interesting. One who pur- 
sues the business of an arriero has his atajos of mules, which are his own property, 
and, together with their halters, pack-saddles, or aparejos, are his whole stock in trade. 
A full atajo consists of sixty mules, though a smaller number is called the same 
name. A good mule, with its aparejo, is worth about thirty dollars. 

He also has a trained, docile horse for himself, and five or six others for his attend- 
ants ; — beside these, he has a gentle horse, commonly a white, gray, or claybank, with a 
bell ©n his neck. This horse always goes before, and the mules will follow after him, 
though they will not follow one of their own kind, even if belled. A horse of a light 
color is selected on account of the ease by which the mules can recognize him at a 
little distance. — The sight of him, and the sound of the bell, starts them all towards 
him. (The author's horse, a handsome claybank, with long and full white mane and 
tail, at camp Ringgold, near Matamoras, was always, when turned loose, followed by 
two or three Mexican mules, belonging to the train, and it was with great difficulty that 
they could be driven away from him. For this, then, the author was at a loss to ac- 
count, but did so easily afterwards ; for, as pack mules in the service of an arriero, 
they had followed a horse of the same color). 

The arriero has in his service six peones for every atajo he owns ; — these are bound 
by debt to him, in the same manner that the general class are bound to the owners of 
the haciendas or ranchos. These are each provided with a lasso for catching the re- 
fractory mules, and each has a long straight sword and sometimes a gun, for their de- 
fence against the ladrones, or robbers, which infest all the highways. The arriero is 
ready with his atajo and attendants, for a journey to any part of the republic. A 
merchant in Saltillo, for instance, proceeds to the coast to buy his goods, or perhaps 
he may go to New Orleans, or have them shipped from England. — They arrive at Mat- 
amoras ; they are passed through the custom house, where they are strictly examined, 
to see that they contain nothing but what is allowed to come into the country, for there 
are many articles that are not admitted. — I'his examination, however, is slight, or en- 
tirely omitted, if the merchant gives to the collector, or administrador, a bribe. — 
When the goods are landed, the merchant must pay upon them a port duty, of from 
fifty to four hundred per cent 
■ His goods are now at the custom house ; —his next inquiry is for an arriero to take 



372 LECHUGAS, OR THORNY FLAG PLANT. 

high hills in the distance, on either hand, and splendid views 
continually opening anew, we came to a swamp of large 
timber, thick ; and under it was a close growth of lechugas, 
or the thorny flag mentioned, [see plate, page 368). — The soil 
of this swamp, now hard as a rock, and having the impress, 
plainly, of tracks made months since, is very boggy when 
wet. — Four miles through this, brought us out to the bank 
of the upper bay of the large lake of Carpentero, at which 

ATAJOS, ARBIEROS, MERCHANTS, AND CCSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS IN MEXICO. 

them to the interior. He finds one, and a bargain is concluded at so much a cargo, — 
that is, a mule load, — (three hundred pounds in our weight). The mules are driven 
up to the custom house and packed with the goods. — Another duty is now laid upon 
these, called an extraction duty ; — this is eighteen per cent. The merchant, before 
the goods are taken, must give security that he will pay this amount within one, two, 
three, four, or five months, or longer, according to the distance they are to be taken. 
On this account, the merchant commonly states his destination to be much farther 
than he really means to carry them. He therefore states his destination to be Mon- 
terey, Saltillo,and Durango. On a stamped paper is made out a list of the goods, the 
boxes, marks and contents, and the certificate of the collector, that the merchant has 
paid the port duties on the goods, and given security for the extraction duty, and he is 
therefore allowed to take the goods to Monterey, Saltillo, and Durango, or elsewhere, 
according as he has stated his destination. — This paper is called a guia. 

The arriero and his men load on the mules, over their pack-saddles, which are sim- 
ply immense pairs of leather saddlebags, stuffed with straw. — He gives the merchant 
a receipt for the number of boxes, and then, commonly accompanied by the latter, the 
atajo sets off on its journey. The mules travel about twenty miles a day ; — at night 
are unloaded and turned out to graze ; and poor picking they have, too. However, 
they are so hardy, that dry grass and weeds go very well with them ; and, if not too 
hardly driven, they are commonly in good order. In the morning they are driven up 
to the piles of merchandise and row of pack-saddles ; and so well do they know their 
own, that one will go to no other. They stand in a row, and the muleteers load 
them again, and all, as before, start off" after the bell horse. 

During the day, the time of the arriero and his men is continually employed in 
seeing that the loads are right. If a box slips, two of them ride up to the mule bear- 
ing it, and put a leathern blind-fold over his eyes ; — the string of this is dropped over 
his long ears, and the blind coming down, prevents him from seeing ; — he instantly 
stops, and nothing can induce him to move while this is on. They then fix his load 
and lash it firmly, take off the blind, which they carry on their arm, (see plate) ; the 
mule resumes his march ; — and thus, day by day, do the patient animals plod along. 

They come near a town. — Here, too, is a custom house ; for Mexico is not like our 
country, in having custom houses only on the ports and borders, and goods once in 
pay no more ; but here, they are in every town ; and duties are to be paid in the in- 
terior, as well as on the coast. Mounted guards are on the hills and approaches to 
the town. — These see the atajo coming ; — they take command, and accompany it to 
the custom house. The long line of mules is stopped ; the questions asked, and the 



LAKE OF CARPENTERO 373 

was a rancho ot several buildings. — While watering the 
horses of the detachment here, the advance of the division 
came in sight, and filed out to encamp. — (Here the author 
left the guard of Gen. Patterson, on account of his horse be- 
ing taken violently sick, and unable to proceed ; but, by the 
kindness of Dr. Wright, the surgeon of Gen. Patterson's staff^ 
the author was furnished with powerful medicines, which 
saved his horse). — Gen. Patterson ordered him to remain 

XTAJOS, AnRIEROS, MERCHANTS, AND CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS IN MEXICO. 

guia examined. If the merchant does not wish to sell there, the custom house has 
nothing to do with him, and the drove passes on, until after a few days' patient labor, 
the next town is reached ; — the same thing takes place ; at the next the same ; the 
next also ; and the same at every town passed. 

After many days, the atajo approaches its destination. The guards, in the same 
way as before, come forward and take it to the custom house ; — the guia is exhibited ; 
the goods are examined, — slightly, if a bribe is given, — and unloaded there. — The 
merchant pays the arriero ; who now seeks for a load to carry to some other place. — If 
successful, he starts off loaded ; if not, he goes empty to another town, on his way 
back to the coast. The custom house officers do not interrupt or hinder him, when 
he has no burdens. 

These arrieros are, as said before, the common carriers of Mexico. — They have 
more to do with foreigners, (i. e. Americans, English, French, and Italians ; for the 
majority of the merchants of the interior are of these nations), than any other class, 
and, from them, they learn honor and fidelity to their employers. They are the more 
honest and trusty class in Mexico, from the Don of the extensive hacienda, down to 
the Indian peon. They can be trusted alone, with goods to carry from one end of the 
republic to the other, against all incidents but robbery ; but they will not, although 
armed, defend with vigor their cargas against the ladrones, or robbers, that swarm 
upon the public roads, without the owner is with them. If he is along, especially if 
he is an American, Englishman, or Frenchman, whom they know will expose his life 
to save his property, they will then second his defence with vigor and bravery ; — con- 
sequently, when such owner is along, the atajos are seldom attacked. Such are the 
arrieros, a good-humored, honest set ; the same to-day as a class, that they were fifty 
years since, and will be as long as the present population remains. 

But as we were obliged to bring in the merchant, as well as the custom house, in 
order to give a correct account of the arriero, let us follow them through ; for, although 
two duties have been exacted from him, on the goods brought, still the custom house 
has not done with him yet. He has paid the port duty, and given bond for the exac- 
tion duty of eighteen per cent. ; and has paid the arriero for the transportation, and 
the goods now lie in the custom house stores in the place of his final destination. 

He wishes to take them to his store to sell. — Before he can do this, he must pay 
the third duty of eighteen per cent., called the internal duty ; and not only so, but 
' a fourth one, municipal duty, to the corporation of the town, for the privilege of sell- 
ing them there. — After this, he is allowed to open them for sale. 

But suppose that he finds that he has too much for the market, or that, while he 



374 DIGNITY OF OFFICERS. 

with the division, to come up with it; and, when arrived at 
Tampico, to report himself to Col. Abercrombie, his aid. — 
(The comparative dignity of generals, and some of the infe- 
rior officers, has been mentioned. This was exemplified at 
this moment. The sick horse, on the ground near the gen- 
eral's wagon, required immediate bleeding, but not a fleam, 
nor even a penknife, could be procured, with which to do 
it. A lieutenant, who had been speaking to the general, 
was standing near the wagon. The author, being pretty 
well acquainted with him, asked him to lend his penknife, to 
bleed the horse. — It was amusing to see the haughty air with 
which he drew himself up, and, without making any reply, 
(struck speechless, with the arrant impudence of such a 
request, made by a long bearded private, to his smoothly 
shaven, nicely dressed lordship, and that, too, in the imme- 
diate presence of the major general), looked our author in 
the face, to rebuke his insolence, with as much severity as 
it was possible for a man to put on. — He, however, was 

ATAJOS, ABRIEROS, MERCHANTS, AICD CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS IW MEXICO. 

was engaged in this long transportation, another had brought a supply, and he wishes 
to send his to the next large town. In that case, the custom house again gets hold of 
him, if that town is out of his state ; for, before he can start with them, he must take 
out a guia, as before ; and upon that must pay another internal duty of eighteen per 
cent., and another municipal duty at the town to which he is sending them. The 
four original duties on the same goods are yet not all the exactions ; for still another 
comes, in an indirect manner. — He has given bond and security to pay the extraction 
duty of eighteen per cent, in the first port ; this he must take in specie ; but, as it en- 
ters the town, it is taken to the custom house, and although it came to pay to them* 
yet it is regarded as coming to be exported, and another duty of ten per cent, is taken 
from it. — The whole system is calculated to exact every quartilla possible, from the 
merchants and people. 

No wonder that the merchant should endeavor to avoid this enormous taxation* 
which, however, at last, comes not out of him, but from the people ; as, for every 
tax he pays, he increases the price of his goods so much ; and thus the government 
grind down the people, not only into poverty, but even into slavery, or the system of 
peonage, the same ; — and, although we are digressing, yet let us follow the subject far 
enough to see its effects upon the bondage of the peon. 

The law obliges him to take two-thirds of his scanty wages, of his master, in goods 
for himself and his family. Now the merchant who brings these, adds to their ori- 
ginal cost, the amount of the five taxes, then his profit, and at the gross amount sells 
them to the owner of the hacienda. He, too, has his profit on the whole, which, by 
universal custom, is one hundred per cent, on the merchant's prices ; and at this, tho 
articles are sold to the peon. Can he ever be out of debt to his master? 

But to the merchant again. — He sometimes succeeds in getting more goods in, thaa 



IMPUDENCE OF A PRIVATE. 375 

thinking of little else save the sickness of his favorite horse, 
and was not struck with much terror at the lieutenant's 
frowning countenance. — Gen. Patterson saw it all, — for it 
was within a few feet of him ; and, waiting a moment, see- 
ing that the officer did not intend to comply with the request, 
immediately, with a smile, he handed his own splendid knife 
to the author, telling him to use every exertion to save so 
good a horse, &c. — The lieutenant immediately looked aston- 
ished, then deeply mortified ; mortified, though, not at his ac- 
tion, but at being so quietly rebuked for it, by the general). — 
The detachment shortly afterward moved on. The author 
now found himself in an unpleasant situation ; his mess gone, 
and forage all missing ; — his company were behind. — Shortly 
however, he was kindly invited by Col. Thomas, to come to 
his tent and table, until the division again came up with the 
general ; of which kind invitation he availed himself so far 
as to procure his meals, and shared the tent of the assistant 
surgeon, Dr. Stout. — The colonel also divided with him the 
forage of his own horses. 

ATAJOS, ARKIEUOS, MERCHANTS, AND CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS IN MEXICO. 

are marked in his guia ; or else, he brings in a contraband article that pays him a high 
profit. — He does this by continual bribery of the custom house officers. — When the 
atajo is approaching the town of its final destination, all the goods that are contraband, 
or that are not marked in the guia, which he has brought along by bribery of the officers, 
the arriero places on separate mules, and some of his men drive these to a by-place in 
the mountains near, or to some place of concealment. The remainder of the goods, 
that are regularly marked, and have paid the duties so far, are driven in towards the 
guards boliily, and taken by them to the custom house — The merchant finds the 
guard who stands at such a point ; — a few dollars given him, and the mules secreted 
can be driven in by him at night, and he will never see them, even should they brush 
him with their burdens ; or he suddenly finds that an atajo is trying to slip in on an- 
other side of town, and he leaves his post to go there, &c. The mules are silently 
driven to an appointed place, and the gates of the high court yard receive them within. 
They are unloaded, and the goods stowed away. — A little extra present to the arriero, 

for his part of the game, and all is right If, by accident, the custom house officers 

suspect the matter, a bribe to them makes them forget to search. 

And now the author asks pardon of the reader, for the insertion of so long a 
note ; but, as it describes the whole manner of transportation in Mexico, by the ar- 
rieros shown in the picture, and also the system of her internal and external duties ; 
the corruption of her public officers, and the bearing of the whole system upon the peo- 
ple, he hopes that it will repay the perusal. — The reader, of course, will understand, that 
in the ports taken by the United States' forces, all these duties are, for the time held by 
them, abolished. 



376 RANCHO AT LAICE CARPENTERO. 

This place, at which we were now encamped, was on a 
wide plain, bare of vegetation ; for some distance back it 
was of alluvial soil, deposited by the lake, which, at times, 
overflowed the most of it. — On the bank of the lake was, as 
said before, a rancho of fifteen or twenty houses. This was 
here situated, for the raising of stock. — The lake, winding 
around, was spread out in the distance, in a smooth sheet ; 
far across it, rose a range of high hills. — Distance marched 
this day eighteen miles. 

Saturday, January 23d. The whole division was on the 
march, before sunrise. — The author's horse, not being yet 
entirely recovered, but sufiiciently so to go leisurely, he got 
on, according to the general's directions, as easily as he 
could. Sometimes he was near the cavalry ; then the artil- 
lery and the infantry would pass him ; and, as he stopped to 
rest his horse, half, or more, of the train would go by ; but 
when rested, he could again pass these, the infantry, and artil- 
lery, and come up to the cavalry again : and thus he spent 
the day very agreeably ; for he had an opportunity to notice 
the passage of the whole division, from the advance to the 
rear, and to observe the continual sport and hilarity of the 
infantry. The most of this, however, was found in the 
" mustang cavalry" — a description of force unknown to the 
army regulations, but which accompanied us from Victoria. 
— It was composed of numbers, from the three regiments 
of infantry. — Any one that could raise the means to buy a 
long-eared buri^o (jackass), or a mule, or old Mexican horse, 
or any such conveyance, immediately entered the mustang 
cavalry. — Such animals could be bought for from three to 
five dollars, — Some of the riders had procured Mexican sad- 
dles, with their horse-hair housings, and bridles also; while 
some had bridles, but no saddles; — others had saddles, with- 
out bridles ; while others, again, had neither. — Here was a 
soldier large as life, with his musket in his hand, on a little 
jackass, without saddle or bridle, and so small, that the rider 
had to lift his feet from the ground ; — the little burro jogged 
along with him, occasionally stopping to gather a bite of 
grass. — Here was another, on an old Mexican horse, whose 
bones showed plainly against his tight hide, having sunken 



THE "MUSTANG CAVALRY." 



377 



eyes, and not able to go out of a walk. — Here was another 
little jack that refused to proceed, while a stout man had his 
shoulder to his rump, heaving him on; he had half a dozen 
muskets and cartridge-boxes for his load. There was a sol- 
dier endeavoring to pull a mule along, by the lariat, while 
another was beating him. — Another was boasting how finely 
his little burro carried him without saddle or bridle, when the 
animal purposely turned under a long, thorny musquit limb, 
and brushed him off quickly, tearing him with the thorns. 
— Here went one loaded with mess-bags, camp-kettles, &c., 
followed by a larger burro, with two riders and no saddle. — 
This mustang cavalry, too, had an officer ; as much of a 
jackass as any with the long ears. He was a small man, 
and rode a miserable, poor, little horse, with an old, torn 
saddle, but no bridle, but with a rope round the horse's nose; 
he paid no attention to the fun going on about him, but, filled 
with dignity, rode on, the most ridiculous object to be seen. 
— His appearance of importance was so amusing, that the 
author made some inquiries of the men, as to who he was, 
and found him to be a commissary, or else a quarter-master 
of one of the regiments. 

We passed, on the march, another atajo, or drove of mules, 
bound from Tampico, into the interior ; these were heavily 
laden, but moved along with steadiness. — On the way along, 
we noticed, that the musquit was generally in bloom, having 
upon it thousands of small balls, each the size of a marble, 
of white and yellow colors, and pleasant fragrance. — After 
twenty-one miles march, over a beautiful, undulating country, 
of rich soil, mostly free from timber, having passed several 




Mustang Cavalry. 



378 TOWN OF ALTAMIRA. 

ranchos on the way, we arrived at the old town of Altamira, 
on the same lake — Carpentero. Here we encamped, on the 
border of this lake, near the town, into which many went 
up, and soon came back, telling all that there was chewing 
tobacco to sell there. — Many of the men had, for a long 
time, been without this article, which, in the interior, was not 
to be procured ; and now, every one who could raise " dos 
reales" (twenty-five cents), went up to buy ; — it was not very 
good, but still appeared, to those who had been so long with- 
out, a great luxury. {See note, page 393.) 

We found the town of Altamira to be a dilapidated place, 
having nothing of interest in its streets and squares, save 
a massive old church, that had been standing for two or 
three centuries; and it appeared as though it might stand 
as much longer. It was a curious structure, high, exten- 
sive, and heavy. On taking a side view of it, one would 
hardly know, whether to pronounce it an old feudal castle, 
a heavy fort, or a gloomy prison, similar to the Bastile ; 
certainly a church would be the last thing he would think 
of. It had heavy stone abutments, running up against the 
walls, appearing like the piers of our bridges, when built 
out, as defences against ice. There was a heavy, eight- 
sided dome on the top, which was a little different from the 
common style of their churches. We were informed that 
much wealth belonged to this old church ; and that its inte- 
rior had been most superbly finished in former times, and still 
so continued ; — we had no opportunity to examine it. — The 
name Altamira signifies a high view, and was probably ap- 
plied to this place on account of the lovely prospect out on 
the lake, which is studded with green islands ; in no other 
direction is the view extensive. — Lake Carpentero commu- 
nicates with thePanuco river; and the inhabitants informed 
us, that vessels, drawing less than five feet of water, might 
come up the river by Tampico, into the lake, and wind their 
way along in the channels between the numerous islands, 
and come up to the town. They might do so, but there is 
nothing at Altamira for them to come for. — With the lovely 
country around it well settled and cultivated, it would be the 
garden spot of the nation. 



AGAVE AAIEUICANA, OR MAGUEY. 381 

The men found here plenty of brandy, muscal, and other 
liquors to sell, of which many of them partook rather too 
freely. — One liquor that is much in use in every part of 
Mexico, but more especially towards the centre and south- 
ern, was also for sale here, as well as in every town that we 
have passed. This is pulque, the fermented juice of the agave 
Americana, or maguey ; plenty of which we had already seen 
growing. The wild maguey, of which the strong liquor mus- 
cal, is made, has already been mentioned. A description 
of this enormous plant, which lives and thrives to the age 
of from fifty to eighty years, will not give to the reader as 
correct an idea of its appearance, as a representation in 
a view. The author, therefore, sketched the appearance of 
two of these plants, which were growing near a rancho, two 
days before reaching Altamira. This view, on the oppo- 
site page, shows the two plants, of not more than twenty or 
twenty-five years old, and not fit yet to tap, to obtain the 
juice, or pulque. The size of the leaves can be seen by 
comparison with the height of the Mexican, smoking his 
cigarro, near. — Of the manner of obtaining the pulque, we 
will speak, when giving the account of all Mexican liquors, 
and methods of distillation, &c. {see page 403). The leaves 
of this plant are covered, on either edge, with thorns, and 
are pointed with the same.* — In this view, also, is shown a 
small rancho, on the little brook, in the back ground; a field 
enclosed by a stick fence, near the rancho ; a corner of 
another fence, on the right of the foreground, and an irriga- 
ting ditch, by which the water was diverted from the brook 
above, and carried to a field below. (This ditch in front, the 
engraver has hid too much, by the grass on its bank). 

January 24th. Another, and the fourth change of appear- 

* This maguey is very useful to the Mexicans. It not only furnishes them with 
pulque and muscal, but of the strong fibres in its leaves they manufacture roi)e, and 
sacking of all kinds (called guaiigoche) ; beside, shoe thread (peiajloxa), and strong 
sewing thread (called pcta torcidd). — The upright shoot of the wild plants, when 
roasted, is sold in small pieces, by the name of quiote. This is prized for chewing, 
—on account of its sweetness, — as they would chew sugar-cane ; and men, women 
and children, when not smoking, frequently have this quiote in mastication. — The an- 
cient Mexicans made as much use of this plant as those of the present race ; and 
beside, formed from its leaves a coarse kind of paper. 



382 CHANGE IN APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 

ance of country since we had left Victoria, here met our 
view. — Near Victoria, we had traveled over mountainous 
scenery.; with a few rapid streams ; — then we struck the me- 
sas, or table-topped hills, with extensive valleys between; — 
next, we left those, and came out into a vast undulating 
prairie, with some water, rich soil, and but little timber ; — 
now, we passed over low, sandy lands, with heavy timber, 
thickly growing ; — the whole appearing entirely different 
from the former sections. — In the first section, it had been 
dry, lonely, but grand ; — in the second, still bare and lonely, 
but pleasing, from its endless change of views and land- 
scapes ; — in the third, still more pleasing, being enlivened 
by extensive views of rounded swells, succeeding each other, 
until lost on the horizon — high, distant mountains, overlook- 
ing the whole : the view of the landscape improved by the 
grass, the palms, and scattered groves ; the large herds of 
horses, mules, and cattle. — The fourth, upon which we had 
now entered, was refreshing and delightful to gaze upon, on 
account of its lofty oaks, of unknown species to us, its beau- 
tiful palms, its lofty, graceful cocoas, of different kinds ; its 
sabre trees, with large trunks and limbs, appearing, in color 
and smoothness, as if bronzed; its spreading banyans, each 
with several trunks ; its trees of orange, lemon, and lime; its 
tall bananas, and sugar-cane ; its pine-apples, and other 
fruits ; its flocks of noisy parrots, of brilliant plumage ; and 
of many kinds of birds which, before, we had never seen. — 
Our old acquaintance, the musquit, left us entirely ; but 
very little cactus could we find ; the trees, now seen, were 
without thorns : nothing was thorny, save the lechugas, or 
thorny flag, and the maguey. 

After commencing the march in the morning, the road 
wound along the lovely shores of the lake, which, in hun- 
dreds of pretty indentations, formed little bays and inlets,, 
upon the green shore. Never before had we seen a lake so 
crowded and studded with the most verdant and beautiful 
small islands. — Over the road the tall trees bent their limbs, 
covered with foliage of as lively green as though the season 
had been May. 

We now, for the first time in Mexico, saw little patches' 



LA ENCARNACION. 383 

of land, — enclosures upon which was the residence of one 
family only, — cultivated by one man, who appeared to be the 
owner. These little fields now began to succeed each other 
rapidly ; and in each one we saw a smoking coal-pit, put up 
in our manner. — About each house were three or four patient 
hurros, who were waiting for their loads of coal, to take into 
the city ; while others were going in, and others yet return- 
ing. — We noticed that many of these little enclosures had 
beds of vegetables: cabbages, beans, onions, garlic, tomatos, 
red pepper, &c., growing for market. The air was different 
from before. Again we felt the sea breeze, that in an in- 
stant can be told, as it falls upon the cheek, by its peculiar 
freshness and invigorating power, — The whole scene was so 
new, that the morning's march seemed but a few moments' 
pleasant ride — and was short ; for eight miles brought us to 
the little rancho of La Encarnacion, where, being plenty of 
water, and only ten miles from Tampico, the division en- 
camped, around and under the thick, shady trees. 

The author continued on to Tampico, — for he yet belonged 
to the general's guard, which had gone in, — arrived there, 
and reported himself to Col. Abercrombie, as directed by 
the general. He was released from any farther duty of the 
guard, which had now been discharged from that duty ; and 
had been ordered, with the two companies — Caswell's and 
Lacy's — who had come in with the general, to return to the 
duty of camp. These two companies, with the guard, start- 
ed out, towards camp ; but the author remained in town un- 
til the following morning, when he returned to the camp at 
La Encarnacion, where all the regiment (save company G) 
and the division then were. — That company, on the night of 
their arrival, were ordered to Tampico, and immediately sent 
over the river Panuco, into the state of Vera Cruz, as a 
guard to the topographical engineers ; who were directed, 
by Gen. Patterson, to reconnoitre the country. They were 
gone upon this service three days. 

Tuesday, Janvuary 2Qth. We have been two days in this 
camp, and they had been devoted entirely, by all the regi- 
ments, to rest and sleep. Plenty of corn and hay had been 
sent out from Tampico for our use, and our wearied horses 



384 CAMP AT LA ENCARNACION. 

at once began to fare well. — As for ourselves, we spent tlie 
most part of the day, after the sun got up, in sleep or in con- 
versation under the thick shade of the trees around ; and ev- 
ery one seemed determined to make up for all that he had 
lost, on the march from Victoria. — No drill or parade was 
required of us here, and a glorious time of " napping it," we 
had. — Gen. Quitman's brigade, which had come one day in 
the rear of us, passed through our camp, and continued on 
to a position within about three miles of the city. Capt. 
Haynes' company of our regiment, had marched with this 
brigade from Victoria. That officer, at the request of the 
author, furnished to him some incidents of his march, which 
will be found in the note.* — We wished much to go in near 
town, also ; but we had no orders so to do. We were satis- 

CAPT. haynes' company WITH GEN. aUITMAs's BRIKADE. 

* " At Victoria, my company having been detached from the regiment, to march with 
Gen. Quitman's brigade, and being ordered by Gen. Quitman to remain behind the 
troops, till all the wagons, &c., had left the city, we took our post near the plaza. — 
Here we saw the Mississippi regiment of volunteers, Capt. Bragg's and Lieut. Thomas' 
companies of light artillery, and Col. May's squadron of dragoons, headed by Old 
Rough and Ready, pass from their encampment, through the city, on their counter- 
march towards Monterey. The general was dressed very plainly, and accompanied 
by his staff. His appearance is that of a plain, blunt, and honest farmer, rather than 
that of an old regular officer ; who are generally great sticklers for military dress. Not 
so with Gen. Taylor. In plain citizen's dress, with forage cap, mounted upon a small 
Mexican horse, which was, perhaps, captured in some of the battles, he did not look 
like the great general, and the great military chieftain. At least, so said those who 
had not seen him before. 

" ' Why,' said one, to whom he was pointed out, ' is that General Taylor ? I never 
should have taken that man for General Taylor ! ' 

" < He is not as tall as I supposed he was,' said one. 

" ' He is a younger man than he is represented to be,' said another. 

" Bowing politely to all, and occasionally stopping to bid adieu to some old soldier 
or volunteer, who had lingered on the streets to catch a parting glimpse of their 
beloved general, Old Rough and Ready passed out of Victoria, followed by the kind 
wishes of the whole army. His little army, that went back with him, numbered only 
between seven hundred and fifty, and eight hundred. 

" About noon, we left the city of Victoria. The Mexican population flowed out to 
see the army march off, apparently much disconcerted, to see columns march off 
towards the south, and the north ; and many were their inquiries, as to which route 
Gen. Taylor would march. 

" Being obliged to remain until all the troops of both armies had left, my company 
patrolled the city, in different directions. Availing myself of the promising appear- 
ance of the interior of a Mexican fonda (eating-house), kept by a senora, who had 



RETURN OF COMPANY FROM SCOUTING. 385 

fied to remain where we were, for we had a fine, shady camp, 
plenty of forage, plenty of provisions, and nothing in the 
world to do ; and beside that, were, at that time, most 
remarkably fond of repose. 

January ^Ith. Company G returned from its scout in the 
state of Vera Cruz, where they had been in the neighbor- 
hood of a large Mexican force, under Gen. Cos, which has 
been there collected for some time ; with that general's head 
quarters at Tuspan, about seventy-five or eighty miles to the 
southward. 

The engineers sent out, under protection of the company, 
finished their observation satisfactorily. — They reported that 
section of country as being fertile, producing in abundance 
pine apples, cocoa nuts, and every kind of the richest fruits, 

CAPT. HATNES' COMPANY WITH GEK. aTJITMAs's BRIGADE. 

made herself very obliging to those who liked Mexican dishes, with a friend or two, 
I entered her house, called for ' cafe, pan, galUnas, huevos^ which means coffee, 
bread, chickens, and eggs. Everything was soon ready, and our hostess assured us, 
that it was all done up in American style. 

" Having seen a commotion amongst the soldiery, she inquired if we were all going 
away. We told her yes. She wished to know if Gen. Taylor was gone. We told 
her, all, but us ; and we would be off immediately. Assuming a thoughtful air, she 
exclaimed, " Yo soy triste ! Mid triste / " (I am sad — I am grieved) ; and then, as if 
soliloquising, she continued : ' entonccs, no puedo vender mas cafe, ni pan, ni hue- 
vos ; ni mas gallinas .'' (Then, I shall sell no more coffee, nor bread, nor eggs ; no 
more chickens*.) ' Americanos, mui amigos .' Mexicanos, mal .'^ (Americans, good 
friends ; Mexicans, bad.) 

" Much amused at the sadness of this money-loving dame, we mounted our horses, 
and marching round the plaza, we left the city at one side, as a Mexican body of cav- 
alry (as we afterwards learned), entered it at the other. 

" Everything went on quietly, till the evening of the second day ; when a small party 
of my company, who had gone out to drive in beeves, saw a party of Mexican cav- 
alry, about six miles ahead of our camp. Next morning, a beef-contractor, named 
Bigelow, who started from the centre brigade, in the morning, to come back to ours, 
was fired upon, and pursued for some distance, by a party of Mexican cavalry, 
who shot him through the leg. The fleetness of his horse enabled him to reach an 
advanced party of my company. That evening, Lieut. Chambliss, with twenty of the 
Giles' troopers, went forward some miles, to ascertain the position of the Mexicans, but 
they had disappeared in the chapparal. 

" Two days afterwards, a party of Mexican cavalry, armed with lances and rifles, 
attacked a few men of the Georgia Regt. and Balt'e Batt'n., who had dropped behind 
the rear guard, and killed one, took another prisoner, and were in pursuit of others, 
who were relieved by the gallantry of Henry Pitts, David Myres and P. C. Morton, 
privates of my company. Being in the rear of the column near two miles, and hear< 
25 



386 BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRY SOUTH OF THE PANUCO. 

and most fragrant and beautiful flowers ; — of tall trees, of 
growth and luxuriance previously unknown to them ; — of 
most lovely lakes spread out, winding in a thousand shapes ; 
— of fields of maguey, larger even than any before seen ; — 
of lofty hills ; — of most luxuriant valleys of green ; — of the 
air refreshed by the sea breeze, which is loaded with the 
fragrance of the orange blossoms ; — of the valleys having 
fields of sugar-cane, of great size ; and, in one word, as a 
perfect earthly paradise. It was amusing to observe the 
enthusiasm with which all of the company spoke of it, offi- 
cers and men. 

We heard before their return, from the Mexicans, that the 
country south of the Panuco, and up along its bank, was ex- 
tremely beautiful and fertile, and therefore we did not dis- 
credit the accounts of the men, though, as said before, it was 
amusing to hear how flowing were their descriptions of its 
attractions. 

CAPT. HATNES' COMPANY WITH GKN. «IUITMAn's BRIGADE. 

ing the guns in their rear, they charged back in a gallop. The lancers, seeing them 
approaching, supposed a body of cavalry was near, and fled to the thick chapparal. — 
One man with difficulty saved himself from their lances, by climbing a small thorn- 
tree, the leaves of which hid him from their view. 

" Before day the next morning, my company marched back, by order of Gen. Quit- 
man, and lay in ambush, on the roadside, hoping that the lancers would follow on, — 
but they had taken the alarm. There was a body of Mexican cavalry, who had 
been, until then, following in our rear. 

"The only remaining incident is to be told. — At Altamira, which is a town of 
between one and two thousand inhabitants, a horse was stolen from my company, as 
we left the encampment. In the evening I returned from our next camp with ten 
men, and calling on the alcalde of Altamira, inquired of him whether any Mexican had 
brought an American horse into the town. He said, at first, that he did not know ; 
then that he would inquire, and soon after said ' yes ; there was a horse, which he 
had sent into the country.' His evasive answers led to a suspicion of his honesty, 
and I immediately took him prisoner, and placed a man on each side of him, with a 
loaded carbine. This produced quite an excitement in the town. The crowd gath- 
ered round us quite boldly, and the second alcalde came forward, to remonstrate 
against the arrest of his brother. His remonstrance soon exhibited the fact, that he 
had secreted another horse, which had been stolen from the Tennessee cavalry ; 
so he was ordered to take his seat between the sentinels as a prisoner. They were 
then told, that unless the horses were forthcoming in half an hour, they would be car- 
ried off. They immediately ordered out some men on horseback, to bring in the 
stolen animals. In ten minutes, one was brought in ; in half an hour another, and 
shortly after, a third, with the two men who had received the horse from the thief; but 
the thief was allowed to escape. ' " , : 



BANANA PLANTS. 387 

This little place of La Encarnacion had only a few houses, 
one of which was of stone, with a store. Here, too, was 
the largest garden of bananas that we had seen. — The 
growth of this tall plant, with its fruit, is well known in the 
southern part of the United States. — Here it was about ten 
feet high, with its long waving leaves of green, and hanging 
bunches of cucumber-shaped fruit, making a fine appear- 
ance, especially as it was planted so thickly. It seemed to 
be the main ** staff of life" with the inhabitants of this sec- 
tion of Mexico. 

— We found here a stone idol, of the ancient Mexican, or 
Aztec race, which idol, we were informed by the intelligent 
owner of the house, was dug up not far from this place, with 
many other things, instruments and utensils, which he said 
were now all lost. This idol is about three feet high, and 
with its pointed pedestal, is one piece ; of a rude style of 
sculpture, but cut with great care. A sketch of it was taken 

CAPT. HAYHES' COMPAKT WITH GES. aUITMAs's BRIGADE. 

« Taking possession of the recovered horses, the alcaldes were ordered to mount, and 
we started with them to the camp, with the assurance that we would keep them pris* 
oners, until the thief should be brought to us ; but the junior alcalde offered, if we 
would allow him to remain, to have the thief captured. We left him, therefore, with 
a promise, that if he did not send us the thief the next day, we would return and take 
him to camp also. 

" About this time, some Mexicans, six or seven in number, armed with swords and 
pistols, rode up near us ; these we quickly disarmed and made prisoners, also. — Our 
party was ten in all. Our prisoners, one alcalde, three horse-thieves, six pack mules, 
bearing forty or fifty gallons of muscal, six or seven disarmed men, and another, who- 
could speak a little English, and begged us to take him a prisoner also, as he was 
determined to die with his particular friend, the Senor Alcalde. His request was 
promptly granted, and he was ordered into line. — With this cavalcade of prisoners, 
mules, and recaptured horses, we entered our camp, sometime after midnight. — Early 
in the morning the thief was captured, and placed at our command, and we re- 
leased the alcalde, whose rejoicings, at his deliverance, were only equalled by the 
fright during his captivity. This was the last horse stolen by the citizens of Alta- 
mira." 

Some complaint was soon after made by the Mexicans, to Gen. Quitman, of this 
capture, who reported the affair to Gen. Patterson, who very wisely passed the matter 
over. It was said, at the time, that these gentlAnen attached some blame to Capt.- 
Haynes, for having thus summarily dealt with the rascals, who aided and abetted in. 
the stealing of his horses. Rather than of censure, for capturing them, that officer 
was deserving of praise. If officers higher in command than him, had acted in the 
same prompt way that he did, when in command of his separate detachment, it wouldi 
have been better than the milder, temporizing course that was pursued. 



388 



ANCIENT MEXICAN IDOL. 



by the author, both side and front view, which will be seen 
below. 

It is one of the numerous idols that were worshipped by 
the ancient Mexicans, before the conquest of Mexico by Cor- 
tes, in the year 1521. — It has much resemblance to the old 
Egyptian style of sculpture ; and from this, as well as the 
similar customs, in some respects, the present pyramids in 
both countries, the similar ancient calendars, &c., some rea- 
sons might be obtained to establish the similarity, or iden- 
tity, of the two races. — The carved apron in front of this 
image was curiously wrought, and the two figures in the cen- 
tre, now worn by time, appear to be the disfigured remains 
of two large hieroglyphics. — The ears of the image are large, 
and nearly square, and stand directly out from the head ; — 
the pointed pedestal appears as if made to fit into a socket. 
Of its general appearance, the reader can get a good idea 
from the sketch, which is a correct likeness. 

There was considerable sickness in the regiment now, and 
one man, James Allen, of Captain Gillaspie's company, died 
to-day. His comrades made a coffin from a gun box, which 
they were so fortunate as to procure. — Most of those who 
have died have been buried without coffins, for no material 
of which to make them could be procured. 

Jammry 28th. Our regiment of cavalry, the first and sec- 
ond Tennessee infantry, comprising, in all, the Tennessee 




MARCH TO TAMPICO. 389 

brigade, under General Pillow, were this morning ordered by 
him to strike their tents, and march to an encampment se- 
lected near Tampico. 

The morning was very pleasant, and the work of striking 
tents, loading wagons, saddling up, &c., was quickly per- 
formed, and we were soon in lines and on the march. The 
second battalion of our regiment, under Major Waterhouse, 
were in advance ; then we of the first battalion, under Lt.- 
col. Allison, followed ; then came the first Tennessee regi- 
ment of infantry, under Col. Campbell ; then the second regi- 
ment. Col. Haskell ; then a small train of company wagons ; 
then the rear guard. 

Our battalion being a little behind hand, had some 
trouble to pass the infantry, to get into our position. — The 
sun was hot, but we were shaded from it by the lofty oaks, 
the extended branches of which, in some places, nearly met 
over the wide road. — Five miles took us through this sandy 
level forest, to the cultivated hills. Here we halted for 
a little while, to allow the infantry to come up ; for on the 
good road we had got nearly a mile in advance of them. — 
In this halt we had leisure to observe the surpassing beauty 
of the scenery around us. 

On our right, far down at the base of the hills, was the 
wide lake, spread out more beautiful still than we had before 
seen it, on account of our height above it, which enabled us 
to look down on its extent, and over the numberless beauti- 
ful green islands, with which its calm surface was relieved. 
Here and there, among the islands, could be seen the long 
slender lines of the boats of the inhabitants, moving al- 
most imperceptibl}'' on the brilliant surface of the water, 
which was unruffled even by a ripple. — The natural beauty of 
this lake, as seen from these hills, with the tall blue emi- 
nences far beyond it, rising in the horizon, is seldom excel- 
led. — But, on the other hand, the prospect, to the left, was 
delightful : — The hills were clothed in perpetual green, of a 
heavy growth of tropical trees, of the richest appearance ; — 
here in forests, there singly or in groves ; while ranches 
■were thickly scattered around far down in the vales, or 
perched, as it were, high up on the hill-sides. — The bloom 



390 BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. 

of nature, the fresh green of all vegetation, was delightful. 
— Orange trees, lemon, and many other kinds, and vines, with 
soft leaves and luxuriant foliage, were thickly growing. — 
We saw no musquit, so thorny ; no prickly pear, as much so ; 
no sword palmetto to pierce, and but little cactus, of any 
species. This seemed to be a garden spot, from which most 
of the thorns had been expelled. 

After a little time spent in gazing on this scene, in itself 
so beautiful as to be worth a journey of a hundred miles to 
see, the infantry came near, and we were ordered on over 
the hills, up and down their long, cultivated sides. — Among 
these, three miles from town, in a beautiful place, was Quit- 
man's brigade encamped. Passing this, we were again halt- 
ed at the last hill, before reaching town, for the infantry. 

Here was another view as beautiful as before, but some- 
what different. — On the right was still the level lake, here 
merging into the river ; — its pretty islands, which we had 
passed behind, were succeeded by others equally picturesque. 
More boats w^ere seen, far below, upon its surface. — On the 
left, as we stood, were still the fertile hills and valleys, with 
extensive fields of sugar-cane, banana, corn, pine apples, 
and other products. — But, to the front, was the main pic- 
ture : — The city of Tampico lay before and below us, with 
its white buildings and large extent. The American flag, 
from a lofty staff, was seen flying out above it; — the forests 
of masts of vessels, with their colors, were in the river be- 
yond, giving animation to the scene. 

This river flowed around in front, and passed far off to the 
left, where a little patch of the blue sea, at its mouth, could 
be perceived, with the tall black dots, as it were, of the heavy 
ships that there lay at anchor. — Over the river, in front, and 
bounding the view, were a long range of hills, not bare in a 
single spot, but covered with a forest of the freshest green. 
In the foreground, on looking down the road, were the line of 
cavalry, seen halted all the way down the hill ; — beyond them, 
the road was thickly studded with men, and small droves of 
jacks and mules, going to, and returning from market ; and 
wagons with their white covers, bringing out provisions, (Stc, 
to the camp of Gen. Twiggs, which was near this place, and 



EXTENSIVE PROSPECTS. 391 

Gen. Quitman's, still farther back. — Beyond these objects, as 
the road again rose the hill to enter the town, was in view, 
first, the stone cemetery, on the right ; the new fortification 
in front; and down still farther than these, to the left, near the 
margin of another lake, was a new fort, yet unfinished, and 
upon which scores of men were then at work. — That lake 
spread out on that side of the city, between the hill upon 
which the fort was built, and a long, wide, level plain, that 
again, beyond, stretched away to the river. 

Upon the river, in the distance, towing up vessels, were 
several steamers, throwing long lines of black smoke be- 
hind them. The other view, first mentioned, was lovely, 
but this extensive scene exceeded it in beauty ; for it 
united sea and land, lakes, river, islands, forests, city, ves- 
sels, army, camp, roads, fields, and crowds of men at differ- 
ent labors. — Where could a scene more comprehensive, more 
beautiful, be found ? 

After the infantry again came up, we were ordered to 
proceed. We passed down the long hill, and rose upon the 
other, of more gentle slope. Proceeding by the cemetery, we 
struck the town at the fortification, near a large two story 
stone building — the military hospital ; and, winding through 
the long streets, descended to the main plaza. From there, 
we passed on through the business portion of the city, though 
continually descending, until we reached the river's edge ; — 
here we turned to the left, and, following the road that led 
out of the city towards the mouth of the river, a short dis- 
tance brought us to a stone bridge, thrown over the canal, 
which connects the smaller lake spoken of, to the left, with 
the river. When this was crossed, we came out upon a spa- 
cious plain, level as a floor, bounded by the river on the 
right, the lake on the left, and high hills in front. As we 
proceeded down, on one of these an old fort was to be seen. 
— This plain contained eight or nine hundred acres ; was un- 
interrupted, in its whole extent, by any enclosure or houses, 
(save two small ones on the river bank) ; and was covered 
with a low growth of green weeds : the cool breeze blew 
gently over it; and there was much beauty in the place. — 
Looking back, over the canal and lake, we saw the city of 



392 ENCAMPMENT NEAR TAMPICO. 

Tampico, now above us — the buildings rising on the side of 
the hill like terraces, one over another. 

As we marched out on the plain, away from the city, and 
towards the old fort on the hill, at the extremity of the plain 
the advance were halted : the infantry came up behind us. 
The three regiments were then marched square off to the 
right, which soon brought all down to the edge of the river 
again, upon the bank of which they halted and encamped ; 
our regiment being the farthest from the city, Col. Haskell's 
next, and Col. Campbell's nearest, not being far from the ca- 
nal and bridge. Here we had a splendid place for a camp : 
— The lovely river was on one side, with vessels and steam- 
boats coming by and returning ; the city was in full view ; 
the plain was large enough for several thousands to drill 
and parade upon ; the hills were near ; and old ocean him- 
self was but five miles off, and in view. 

Onl}' two inconveniences we found :— One was, that all 
the vi^ater in the river was somewhat salt, and our drinking 
water had to be brought from a large circular wooden cistern, 
above ground, on the canal, near the bridge, about half a 
mile from our regiment. — This cistern was kept full by many 
Mexicans, who were continually employed, with large boats 
filled with hogsheads, in going up the river, to the fresh wa- 
ter, filling these, bringing them back, and discharging their 
contents into the cistern ; — to do this, bringing their boats 
into the canal, close to it. — From this, it was drawn off into 
our buckets, as we wished it. 

The other was the want of wood. — Upon first encamping, 
we collected all the loose drift wood that the winds and 
waves had thrown upon the shore, close to us. This, al- 
though soaked with salt water, and covered with barnacles, 
(a small sea shell that adheres in numbers to all wood and 
other objects exposed in salt water), yet burned well after 
the sun and wind had dried it. After this was gone, we had 
to go with the wagons to the hills, towards the mouth of the 
river, to obtain any kind that we could get, with more labor 
than ever before ; — yet, during our stay at this encampment, 
we always found enough. 

There was not a particle of shade here, but at this season 



ABUNDANT SUPPLIES. 393 

of the year, though sometimes very hot, the sea breeze kept 
the air at a pleasant temperature. 

Here, now, we were comfortably placed at the city of 
Tampico, the second commercial town in the republic of 
Mexico, three hundred and twelve miles from the capital, 
near the mouth of the river Panuco, in the midst of as lovely 
a country as is to be found on the globe ; and here we were 
furnished with every comfort, every convenience, that soldiers 
in a foreign land could expect or ask for. — Provisions of ev- 
ery kind, used in the army, were abundantly issued to us ; — 
oats, corn, and hay, for our horses, as much as they could 
eat ; — and our duty, during our stay here of forty days, was 
light, being principally drills and parades ; which, though 
keeping us continually employed, and often tiresome, yet 
were by no means hard. 

The course of the journal, from day to day, along, will 
be interrupted, and only written at intervals, during this 
stay of forty days ; for the course of one day was often 
so much that of the day preceding, that the repetition of 
the same scenes would be tiresome to the reader. — The next 
chapter, X, will be devoted to a description of the scenes 
that met our observation at Tampico; chapter XI, bringing 
up the operations of the other divisions of the army, hap- 
pening in the meantime ; and we will commence chapter 
XII with our departure from Tampico for Vera Cruz, still far- 
ther to the southward, and at this time in the possession of 
the enemy. 

NOTE UEFERRING TO PAGE 378. 

The Mexicans do not use chewing-tobacco, but are continually smoking. Their govern- 
ment turns this habit of the people to a means of revenue. The cigars used in the country, are 
all made in the government establishments ; and sold at the same price everywhere. If any 
tobacco is found upon the premises of any person, save of those who sell it for the govern- 
ment, called Estanques, the delinquent is punished with a fine of five hundred dollars, and one 
year's imprisonment. — The government contracts every year, with a merchant, for the quan- 
tity they want. He contracts with certain haciendas to raise this amount, which is done, and 
no other person in the nation is allowed to raise a single plant. — The Estanque of every town 
is appointed by the government; and is under bond and security, for the faithful payment of 
the proceeds of the puros (large cigars), and cigarros (small ones), that the governor forwards 
to him, from time to time. The E.stanque furnishes other shops with cigars, and allows them 
to sell, on his own responsibility ; these are called Esianquillns. The Estanque makes returns 
monthly to the governor, reserving six per cent., for his pay. — Besides, no note, deed, or bond, 
is valid in Mexico, without it is written upon paper stamped with the seal of the government 
{papelsellado). The price of this is placed at from a quarter of a dollar to two dollars and a half 
per sheet, according to the instrument to be written; and no one can sell it but the Estanque. 



CHAPTER X. 

February 4th. We had been now at Tampico a week, 
had become well acquainted with its position, appearance, 
&c., and we will endeavor to give the reader a correct idea 
of it. We have mentioned the old fort on the hill, at the 
farther extremity of the plain from the camp, and the course 
toward the mouth of the river. From this fort is a fine pros- 
pect. — The author sketched two views from it, which are 
presented. (See plates.) 

This, called Fort Andonega, stands on a high eminence, 
looking down on the plain, river and lake, and com- 
mands the city. In the first view, reader, imagine your- 
self standing on this old fort, looking towards the south- 
west. — As you see in the picture, the wall is in front of you; 
this wall is of stone and cement, and is about eight feet 
thick, sloped off on the top. Over the wall, you look down 
on a tangled mass of small timber and vines ; a little brook 
runs round in there, and then flows under the base of the hill 
on which you are, and continues on to the river below ; — be- 
yond the thicket of brush-wood, you see the smaller lake, 
which has been mentioned ; a long canoe, with a sail, is upon 
it, having come through the canal. 

Over the lake, on the hill, you see the city. — You observe 
that it falls off from the centre, down to the river, on the 
left. At the right extremity of the city you observe a tall 
building, with a flag over it. It has been turned into a fort, 
and has artillery mounted on its flat. roof, though the pieces 
are not to be perceived at this distance. — To the right of 
that, you see a large building; that is the military hospital; 
built and used as such, by the Mexicans, and appropriated 

(394) 



THE CITY OF TAMPICO. 399 

by our forces to the same purpose. The road from the inte- 
rior, by which we entered the city, comes in there. To the 
right of that, is the campo santo, or cemetery, with its stone 
walls and lofty gate. There is another to its left, but it is 
concealed from view by the hospital. Nearly between you 
and the cemetery, and not far from the edge of the lake, you 
see a new fort, with a flag above it; it is yet unfinished, and 
has been before mentioned. To the right of these, and far- 
ther up, you see the tents of part of Gen. Shields' brigade. 

Now, reader, could you be on the top of the building with 
the flag upon it, or at the cemetery, or on the top of the hill, 
anywhere there, you would see below you, on the other side, 
the river, the mouth of the lake, both widely spread out with 
the beautiful islands spoken of, and lovely channels between. 

You would see far over these, still onward, a blue range 
of hills, in the distance ; and could you be across the waters, 
and upon those hills, then you could look down on the vast 
expanse of lake Tamiaqua, an inland sea, in extent, that 
runs far to the southward, and is separated from the Gulf of 
Mexico, by a high, long, range of hills. Its wide inlet com- 
municates with the Gulf, far to the southward, beyond this 
range, near the mouth of the Tuspan river ; but over all its 
shores, as well as up to the Panuco river. Gen. Cos, with his 
Mexican army, holds possession. 

On the left of the picture, from Fort Andonega, you see, 
first, part of the extensive plain, which has been described, 
and on the farther extremity of which the Tennessee brigade, 
under Gen. Pillow, is encamped; the tents of the first regi- 
ment of which can be seen. Those of the second, are still 
farther to the left, and nearer, in the bend of the river, and 
our regiment in the same bend, still nearer. You perceive 
that the long skirt of low timber extends up to the left from 
the main body, and is between the lake and the plain; its 
extremity conceals the canal, which there runs from the river 
to the lake. It also hides from view the bridge over this 
canal. There is a new fort there, made by our forces, which 
is also concealed ; beside, an old circular one of the Mexicans, 
now nearly torn to pieces. — Beyond the camp you see the 
river, that flows round from the other side of the city ; over 



400 VIEWS FROM FORT ANDONEGA. 

the lower part of which can be seen the numerous masts of 
the vessels there at anchor. A large flag can be seen over 
this part of the city. It is on the flag-staff in the plaza de 
Comerdo, or the lower plaza, adjoining the river. Beyond 
the vessels, and over the river, concealed by numerous 
islands, is Pueblo Viejo, or old Tampico, the former city, a 
very old place. This new city of Tampico has sprung up 
in late years ; the population settling here on account of the 
better harbor. 

Now, reader, from the picture and the description of it, you 
have a correct idea of the situation of Tampico ; and, hav- 
ing sufficiently observed the position of the city, and all the 
prominent objects about the exterior of it, turn slowly round 
to your left, and in imagination see the plain below you, the 
remainder of the camp of the Tennessee brigade, and the 
river, which comes nearer to you than before, while the high, 
forest-covered banks opposite, are pleasant to view, from the 
peculiar freshness of their green. — Turn completely round, 
"with your back to the city, and then the other picture is 
before you. First you look upon the area of the small fort 
in which you stand. Three Mexicans are there, smoking 
their cigarros, and talking of the steamboat which is towung 
up the brig in the river. In the fort, on the right, and front, 
you observe the stone platforms, on which formerly stood the 
heavy pieces of artillery, which bore down upon the river. 
On the left, is a building, now decaying, with the tiles nearly 
gone from its roof; it was used for the barracks of the gar- 
rison, and when our naval forces first took the city, in 
November last, it was occupied by marines from the ships of 
v^^ar ; then, the former name of the fort, Andonega, was abol- 
ished, and it was now called Fort Conner, in honor of the 
commodore. — The marines held it until the arrival of the land 
forces; when, with much ceremony, the possession of the 
city and all the forts, was handed over, by the naval offi- 
cers, to those of the army. — By the last, this has not been 
occupied, for no attack is feared from sea. — On the left of 
the picture, can be seen three stone steps ; they ascend to 
a fine, smooth platform, the former walk of the officers 
of the garrison ; the magazine, also, was in this elevation. 



VIEW OF THE MOUTH OF PANUCO RIVER. 401 

Over the broken wall in front, you observe a hill covered 
with bushes : — that hill is the final resting-place of many 
soldiers of our own, and of the other regiments of our brig- 
ade. The graves are on that part of it seen beyond the cor- 
ner of the house. — From the front of the picture round to the 
right, you perceive the smooth plain spread out, not so wide 
as above ; — on it, in the distance, is the wagon train of the 
brigade ; — beyond this, is the river — a schooner is going out, 
and a steamer is towdng up a brig. Down the river, you see 
another small schooner, going out ; — beyond her, you per- 
ceive the mouth, the old forts, and the pilot houses ; — these 
are about four miles distant. You observe two large ships 
lying off; several more are out there, but not in view: — 
they draw too much water to come over the bar. — Still be- 
yond them, are the waters of the Gulf. — On the right, are 
the hills of green before mentioned, though, in many places, 
plains strike off from them ; but these cannot be perceived 
in the view. 

Having observed this scenery towards the mouth of 
the river, turn again to the view of the city on the other 
hand. You perceive the large flag in the lower part of it, 
before spoken of as being over the plaza de Comercio ; and as 
that is the most busy part of Tampico, we will commence 
the description of the city there : imagining yourself at the 
foot of that tall flag-stalf. 

You are in the centre of the large square. — The flag- 
staft' is placed in a circular pedestal, quite large, being near 
twenty feet in diameter at the top, and of six steps, (be- 
tween four and five feet), in height ; all of stone, and 
beautifully finished. It is said here, that this was intend- 
ed for the base of a statue of Santa Anna ; but our forces 
have applied it to the use of furnishing a firm founda 
tion for the large staff" supporting the flag of the United 
States. The steps, which run all the way round, are excel- 
lent seats ; — ascend two or three, and let us seat ourselves, 
and look upon the lively scene before and around us : — The 
square is finely paved with small fiat stones, wdth radii or 
diverging lines (made by these set on edge) running from 
this circular elevation to every part of it. It is separa- 
26 



402 SIGNS OVER THE STORES. 

ted from the width of the streets that join it, by a row of 
handsome, tall, cemented, square stone pillars. — On the back 
and two sides, you see the crowd continually passing to and 
fro, with many ^vagons, many bunvs, and more pack mules. 
The buildings around the square, you see, are of two lofty 
stories, with handsome fronts ; — stores are in all the lower 
stories. 

The stores around, you will notice, have odd signs over their 
doors. — One has a large sun over it, with the inscription "Ti- 
ENDA DEL SoL," (the store of the sun) ; another, with a crescent, 
and " La Luna," (the moon) ; another has a comet painted out, 
with " El Cometa; " another a white horse, with " El Cabal- 
Lo Blanco; " another a palm tree, with the same inscription, 
" La Palma ; " and so on, according to the taste of the owner. 
— Almost every one has such a representation. — These signs 
are so placed for the convenience of peones, criados, (house 
servants), and others who cannot read. — If you step over into 
one, you will notice a great variety of articles, and in very 
many of them a bar with wines to sell ; for, by the general's 
orders, they can sell nothing stronger ; — but ask for some 
"strong wine;" the Mexican will understand you, and with 
much politeness hand you out a glass of the strongest sort of 
brandy ; but ask him if he has any brandy, he shakes his 
head and his fore finger before his face: — '■'■ No hai, Scnor ; 
' hramly ' no se vendc,^'' (has got no brandy to sell) ; though he 
has just handed you a glass, and will hand you another if 
you ask for " strong wine."* 

MEXICAX LiaUORS. 

* In Tampico were plenty of French and Spanish wines, brandies, and cordials for 
sale, beside their own Mexican liquors, of which there were one or two distilleries, fit- 
ted like our own, in the city. The principal Mexican liquor, as has been said before, 
that is used over the whole republic, is pulque. When a maguey plant, (seen on 
plate page -378), is coming to maturity, — i. e. preparing to blossom, — which it does 
but once, and which takes place at from sixty to even a hundred years of age, accord- 
ing to the soil and elevation, — a large excavation is made in the side of the stem, to 
the hollow within, the bottom of wliich is like an acorn cup. — The juice of the plant, 
that would have fed the tall blossoms, distills from the wounded leaves into this cup, 
and is dipped out twice a day ; — a good plant yielding, daily, from three to four gal- 
lons. It is of a sweet taste when taken out ; requires no preparation, but is set aside. 
— The second day it is partly fermented, and is somewhat like metheglin in taste ; — 
the third day, the fermentation is complete, and it then is about as strong as hard cider; 



PUROS AND CIGARROS. 403 

In these stores, they have a much better idea of exposing 
their goods to the best advantage for appearance, than our 
merchants have, with equal stocks on hand. One Irttle thing 
you w^ill notice : no store is without its brascro, or pan for 
coals, on the counter, at which to light the cigars, which 
these Mexicans are ever smoking. — There are little ones of 
cut tobacco, wrapped in paper, and sold in bunches of forty- 
eight each. These cigars are not larger than a tenpenny 
nail, and smoke but a few moments ; — they are called cigai^- 
ros. A larger kind are all of tobacco, somewhat like ours ; 
— they are called puros, and are sold in bunches of eight or 

MEXICAN I.IQ.rORS. 

has a peculiar smell, something like tainted meat, and is drank in great quantities by 
the Mexicans, and sold in the market places and shops of the towns ; — often colored, 
to make it attractive to the eye. — (At Vera Cruz, the pulque sellers colored it of many 
tints). The soldiers, generally, did not like it ; though they would have drank it, had 
it been stronger; but it was not sufficiently so for them to overcome their repugnance 
to the odor of it. 

From this pulque a strong liquor is distilled, called, in this section, aguardiente, 
though this term signifies all strong liquors, meaning, literally, " strong water," equiv- 
alent to the Indian's " fire water.'' — Muscal, a very strong, peculiar liquor, which has 
been several times mentioned, is made of the wild maguey, which is not so large as the 
other. — The plant is crushed, and, when fermented, the whole is distilled. The method 
of distillation in the interior of Mexico is rude. — A row of copper kettles is set, usually 
within the adobe walls of the house ; beneath the kettle, and opening on the outside 
of the wall, are the arches for the fires. — Each kettle has a double or hollow head, for 
the steam to ascend into it, through a hole in the bottom, the edges of which are raised. 
There is no still worm for condensation, but a stream of water is brought along in a 
trough above, and a spout of it, dashing down on the copper head of each kettle, cools 
and condenses the steam within, and the liquor so obtained, being prevented from run- 
ning back into the kettle by the raised edge of the hole within, issues from a little stop- 
cock in the side, into the receiving vessel. — So much for a Mexican distillerj' in the 
interior. 

In some parts of the republic, especially about the city of Parras,in the interior, west 
from Monterey, (see map), the grape is extensively cultivated, and large quantities of 
good wine and brandy are made, and much used by the Mexicans, as are the foreign 
liquors spoken of; but still, the principal drinks come firom the maguey, pulque, and 
mtiscal. 

After being tapped, that plant continues to yield the quantity mentioned, each 
day for about four months, although there may not be a drop of rain during that 
time ; — it then dies in the centre ; but as it decays toward the outside, many little ones 
spring out at the roots of the enormous leaves. — These are set out, and grow freely. 
They are sometimes arranged as a fence, and neither horse nor ox dare attempt to pass 
them. — He who sets out maguey plants, does it for the next generation, for the chances 
that ever he will see it yield, are a hundred to one against him. 



404 POLITENESS OF MEXICANS. 

sixteen. — The tobacco of the country is of a superior quality 
for smoking, and the puros are often equal to our highest 
priced Havana cigars. 

Observe these two Mexicans, meeting on the square ; they 
are strangers to each other ; one is smoking ; is stopped by 
the other, who, in the most polite manner, touching his som- 
brero, asks for a light; this is answered by the first, with a 
grace that would do honor to a Frenchman, by handing him 
his cigarro, at which he lights his, then returns it with a 
bow, while the former receives it, stepping back with another 
bow, and touching his sombrero also, as if expressing his 
sense of obligation, that his cigar should be returned to him; 
and the expression of muchas gracias, Senor, is given, as they 
separate. — That is a fair sample of their politeness and easy 
ceremony, even among the lowest class, upon all occasions. 
(If the parties are of unequal rank, the inferior takes off his 
hat, and holds it in his hand, while the other is lighting). — 
They are faithless and treacherous, — will rob, steal, and even 
murder, upon every favorable occasion ; but still, in all their 
intercourse with you, and with one another, they are exceed- 
ingly polite and accommodating. — Enter one of their houses, 
and everything they have, seems to be at your disposal ; and 
they often disoblige themselves, to accommodate you. They 
will give you freely, any information in their power ; and seem 
to take a pleasure in so doing. — Singular traits of character 
to be united in the same persons ; but so they are. 

Those Mexicans have gone across the square ; let us con- 
tinue our observations. In front, towards the river, and 
obstructing part of the view of that, from the flag-staff, 
you see a long, one story building, with a piazza roof, 
standing out, under which are some pieces of cannon and 
several men crowded around the windows. — Upon looking 
closely, you observe they are bringing tortillas from the mar- 
ket-place near, bread from the bakeries, and other provi- 
sions, and handing them in through the gates, to those inside. 
This building is the guard-house. The men there, have 
been placed in for various reasons : some have been fight- 
ing, getting intoxicated, «Sz;c. ; some have refused to do extra 
duty, imposed upon them for being absent from roll-calls or 



VEGETABLE MARKETS. 405 

drills, and have been marched np here ; some have thought 
themselves ill-used, by their company officers, and have told 
them so, and being cursed in reply, have returned oath for 
oath, with good interest, and have been confined here for 
insolence, and insubordination. Some have thoughtlessly 
strolled off from camp between the intervals of duty, with- 
out a permit in writing, and have been placed in here, by 
some sergeant of the guard, who has met them in the town, 
&c., &c. 

Let us now leave the observation of the guard house, and 
the men there confined, and from the flag-staff walk a few 
steps to the upper portion of the square, on the river, to the 
right. — Here is a jabbering, busy scene ; all over the pave- 
ment, far and near, crowded upon each other, are numbers 
of Mexicans ; men, women, boys, and girls ; each one with 
a small square mat of palm-leaf, or rushes, spread out, on 
which they are seated, cross-legged ; before each one, is some- 
thing to sell, mostly eatables. — One has before her a number 
of little piles of sweet potatoes, cooked ; each pile to sell for 
un real ; another has a pile of mies [pron. mice), corn, on his 
mat, and is on his knees, with his little square measure of 
media cdimid, to sell it full, for dos reales (twenty-five cents) ; 
another has upon his mat a large pile of red peppers {chili), 
without which, these Mexicans could not live. Another has 
a pile of onions [ccboUas) and garlic {ajo) ; while another has 
several baskets of the finest oranges [naranjas), five for a 
medio (six and a quarter cents) ; another has many pine-ap- 
ples, from un real, un medio, to dos reales each. Another, has 
nothing on her mat but a large heap of frijoles (beans), but 
she gets many customers ; another has several cabbages (re- 
pollos), and she is busy in calling the attention of all to them. 
— Another has a large heap of bananas, at a medio for a 
bunch of about a dozen, each the size of a common cucum- 
ber. 

Here was a row of a dozen little girls, all with their re- 
bosos drawn over their heads, seated on their mats, with, be- 
fore them, large piles of pan a dulce, or sweet bread, in fancy 
forms, looking nice and clean; while opposite them, are 
several old women, ugly as sin, each with a large earthen 



406 SCENE AT VEGETABLE MARKET. 

pot, over a charcoal fire ; the steam comes from the vessels, 
in which are stowed, layer upon layer, little parcels of a 
composition made of chopped pork, mashed corn, and red 
peppers, called iomalcs. Each one is wrapped in a piece of 
plantain leaf, and is not, in size, two mouthfuls ; many stop 
to buy, and eat these little morsels, hot with steam and 
pepper.* 

Near these are several rough-looking rancheros, with large 
rabbits, peccaries, a species of hog, of an iron-gray color, 
with stiff, sharp, bristles, and very lean, called by them cochhio 
del 7nonte, or hog of the woods. They have, too, many rac- 
coons, rather different from ours, partridges, squirrels, and 
any number of ducks. — Another is beyond, whose whole 
stock consists of a few dozen huevos, or eggs. — Some have 
little chocolate cakes and balls, of a superior quality ; while 
others have chocolate and coffee ready to drink. — Here is a 
ranchero who has made up a number of sombreros, from 
palm-leaf, now offering them for sale ; while another has 
some lariats, or hair ropes, for horses. — The whole pavement, 
from the square down to the water's edge, is covered with 
these mats, with various articles ; while, through the whole, 
a crowd of Mexicans are stepping round, and many Ameri- 
can soldiers, attracted by the continual bustle and jabber over 
the whole ground ; such a noise is there, that one could 
hardly hear himself speak, , 

From the square, you see down the paved slope to the wa- 
ter's edge, where are many large boats at the shore, with their 
bows on, and crowded against one another. Near them, di- 
rectly in front, is the short wharf, at which lies a steamer 
and another vessel ; while out in the stream lay many brigs, 
schooners and steamers, while boats are continually going 
and returning from these to the wharf, bringing their cargoes 
of grain, provisions, ammunition, wagons, &c. Many enor- 
mous piles of all these, save the ammunition, (which is im- 
mediately taken away), are on the pavement at the head of 
the wharf, the cartmen and wagoners taking these away, and 

* In other cities these tomales are wrapped in corn-shucks. They are much prized 
by the population, and are eaten when quite hot. All who have heard the venders, 
will remember their continual cry of tomuks calientes ! (hot tomales). 



LANCHAS, OR LONG CANOES. 407 

the sailors and laborers landing them, make much noise ; but 
it is but little to that made by the Mexican boatmen in their 
long canoes, to the right of the wharf, for some distance up 
and down the river. 

Let us pass down to them, carefully stepping about amid 
the mats of vegetables, &c., in our way, and finding some 
difficulty in getting through the busy crowd among them. — 
As we come near the boats, a dozen of the boatmen, think- 
ing that we wisli one, to take a sail for pleasure, are 
around us, each one jabbering as fast as he can speak about 
the beauty and speed of his boat, while pointing to it ; 
another jabbers as fast, and says that the boat of the first is 
mid malo, (very poor), and his is muclio hueno, (very good) ; — 
they get hold of you, and each one, by every means, endeav- 
ors to induce you to employ him. — But, refusing them, let 
us look at their boats : — These are quite long, — some thirty 
feet or more ; are dug out of a solid trunk of a tree ; — 
some are mahogany, but the most are of a species of cedar, 
that grows abundantly in the borders of the large lakes which 
join this river ; and for such an extent of country around 
does this canoe navigation extend, that there are great num- 
bers of them made. — Almost every one has a short mast and 
low sail, that, in a light breeze, skims them swiftly over the 
water. 

Some of these here collected are passenger boats, and are 
waiting for hire ; but the most have come from up the Pan- 
uco river, or from far up the Carpentero lake, beyond Alta- 
mira, or from the large lake called Zapote, on the other side 
of the river, with vegetables and fruits of all descriptions, 
which grow in the torrid zones, to sell. — Some of them are 
entirely loaded with oranges; — lemons are of too little value 
to bring in. — You may go out here in the country a few 
miles, and off from the road, pick up any quantity of them 
under the trees. Before this, we had got plenty of them. 

Other canoes are loaded with bundles of green twigs, and 
leaves from the ohaUta, or fodder tree, which are sold here in 
great quantities, to feed horses with. — It appears singular 
that horses should be fed on such fodder as the green leaves of 
a large tree, but they cat it with avidity ; though m'c have 



409 HUGE SEA TURTLES. 

never seen this fodder used any where else in Mexico, save 
here. — There are several of these boats thus loaded, and 
many are buying their bundles of fodder. 

Let us walk up further. — Here are four boats that have 
just come up from the mouth of the river with tortugas, tur- 
tles, and 2)cscado, fish. Look at these turtles : — There is one 
that will not weigh less than seven or eight hundred pounds, 
and several others that will weigh from four to six hundred. 
They are of enormous size, and there are plenty of them on 
this coast. — See that little Frenchman looking at one of the 
smaller ones, and hear how the Mexican fisherman praises 
it, and how many gestures are used on both sides during the 
trade. The Frenchman keeps an eating house a little back 
of the square, and wants to furnish his customers. — The 
whole scene of these noisy boatmen, joined with that men- 
tioned by the others, is interesting, and time runs rapidly 
on while walking round among them. 

Let us return to our position at the flag-staff. — By refer- 
ring to the picture, as taken from fort Andonega, you per- 
ceive that the city rises back from this flag- staff", to the outer 
skirt on the interior, at the military hospital there seen. — 
Let us go back in this direction. — In the first place, by a con- 
siderable ascent, we go up a pretty street, in a parallel di- 
rection with the river, and one square back from it. This 
street, like all the rest, is well paved, and has sidewalks 
of flag stones. — No stores are in it ; but on either hand 
are dwelling houses, with their stone walls joining each 
other along; — where apart, they are connected by a high 
garden wall. These buildings are well made and lofty, 
but have a bare, somewhat gloomy appearance, from their 
fortress-like manner of construction, with a heavy door 
opening inward to the interior court, and but few windows ; 
these are projecting and iron barred, so as to give the la- 
dies (for there are many females in Tampico deserving that 
appellation) a chance to look out up and down the street. — 
You will observe that the gutter is in the middle of the 
street, and that both sides slope down to it, instead of our 
custom of having one on either side. 

As you pass these buildings, you will hear the sound of 



STYLE OF BUILDING IN BEST HOUSES. 409 

several pianos in the houses, and see at the windows many 
quite pretty women, though a little dark in complexion ; but 
that, with their black hair and eyes, only heightens their 
beauty. 

Proceeding up this street two squares, you come on the 
left, or towards the river, to the house occupied by Gen. Pat- 
terson, as the military he ad- quarters. — A large flag is sus- 
pended over the door above, by a cord, which crosses the 
street to the large building opposite. — These two buildings 
are the corners of the next cross street, that runs directly 
from the river bank, here high and bluff, back down to the 
principal plaza, and then on directly through the city, com- 
ing out near the lake seen in the view. 

As this house, occupied by Gen. Patterson, was one of the 
best style here built, we will enter it, and observe its con- 
struction. — You perceive that there are windows on either 
side of the arched doorway ; — these are of large panes of 
glass, but have the usual iron bars without ; — the doors are 
stout and ornamented. Above the door and each window, 
the large space of the arch is filled with panes of glass, each 
in segments of the half circle, of which these form a part. 
These panes are of colored glass ; — one is red, another green, 
another orange, another blue, another yellow, and so on 
round the half circle ; — the mellow light from these gives a 
beautiful tinge to the objects within. 

We enter into the first large room ; — the floor is of square 
marble slabs, each about eighteen inches wide ; — one is 
black, the succeeding one white, like the squares on a che- 
quer board ; — in the centre is a large black marble star. — 
Heavy ornamental pillars support the ceiling above, which 
is lofty, and adorned with rich stucco work ;— the walls have, 
round the tops, the same. — They are not papered, but white 
and smooth. — The smaller room, on the right, is finished in 
the same manner. 

The larger room, in the rear, is also finished in the costly 
style of the first, with as large a door, opening out into the 
spacious court, at the further side of which, are the stone sta- 
bles, which these people in the cities always have near their 
houses, and sometimes, (as at Vera Cruz), in the lower story, 



410 APPEARANCE OF STREETS. 

where they reside above. — The whole building, costly and 
splendid in appearance, has a cool, but to us, accustomed to 
our kind of houses, a cheerless, bare, appearance. — This 
house is owned by the former collector of the customs at 
this place, who now has lost his situation and his profits, 
since our forces have taken possession of the city, and a new 
and much lower rate of duties is levied upon goods. 

Leaving this house, and turning to the right, we will fol- 
low down the cross street before mentioned, towai-ds the 
principal plaza. The first object that you will perceive, is 
a number of Mexicans at work repairing the pavements, un- 
der the direction of an overseer, or alcaide:*^ As they seem 
to labor in a constrained manner, you will see, as we come 
nearer, that some of them are confined by a chain. — They 
are the criminals condemned by the alcaldes to labor on the 
streets, for petty crimes. You will perceive that the alcaide 
has a sword, and several rods with it. 

Here, as in other cities, that we have taken, the course of 
justice with the population continues undisturbed- The guard 
of our soldiery overlooks the whole, and keeps order among 
the Americans. Our government, of course, is only military, 
though, as will be mentioned, shortly after this time, our 
commanding officers took part of the civil authority, and 
endeavored to show these people something of the manner 
of trial by jury ; a thing wholly unknown in their laws. 

Along this street, we see the same continuous course of 
mingled population on the side-walks. Here knots of Mex- 
ican peones, in their uncouth dress; there, gentlemen, in that 
more dashy ; beyond, American soldiers, continually passing, 
or stopping to converse; officers, in couples, or threes. In 
the body of the street, is a long atajo of mules, just come in 
from the country ; observe each patient animal, heavily 
packed, as he follows steadily along, after his predecessor. 
— Let us pass along, glancing in at the numerous stores ; 
not so large on this street, as on the Plaza de Comercio ; still 
you see the lofty shelves, covered with goods, earthen-ware, 
crockery, and every article that elsewhere you can purchase. 

* The alcaide is an inferior ofllcer of police, who has charge of the prison in every 
town, particularly responsible to the ayuntainiento of the town. 



SENORITA OF THE HIGHER CLASS. 411 

You see many women buying. Observe that one drawing 
her reboso more closely over her head, as she steps out ; 
notice her walk, she seems to step so lightly, still with such 
ease and dignity, or, as some call it, " with a queenly tread ;" 
— they all walk so. But here, up the side-walk, comes one 
in whom you can better observe it. She is returning from 
"mass;" is of the higher class; she looks as "neat as a 
pin ;" her reboso is fine, and richly ornamented, and fits to 
her head and shoulders, as closely as a cut garment. As she 
comes near, look at her fan ; it is of the " open and shut" 
kind ; she carries it in her hand, although the day is not 
warm ; hear with what a peculiar rattle, she throws it open 
and closes it. They have a variety of motions with the fan, 
for their sweethearts and friends : one to attract and permit, 
another to repulse and deny, &c. Look at her foot, so small 
and \vell turned ; her form fine ; her features regular ; com- 
plexion olive ; pretty mouth and white teeth. But notice 
the glances of her eyes, are they not attractive ? They seem 
to show her whole soul. There is no coldness in her look. 
Turn, and look at her walk, as she has passed by ; is it not 
" queenly." sure enough ? But do not look at her too long, 
for you might have no relish for the next objects to which the 
author would draw your attention. 

This is no other than four patient biwros (jackasses), 
that while you have been gazing at the beautiful seno- 
rita, have been shaking their long ears close to your el- 
bow ; one is elevating his head and tuning his throat for 
a sonorous bray ; while another is stretching out his nose, 
endeavoring to reach a piece of orange peel, which is near 
your feet. They have each an open box on either side of 
them, which are connected above their backs. In each box 
are two kegs of ten gallon size, so that each burro has four 
of them on his back. They are filled with water; and the 
industrious owner (aguador, or water-carrier), has been four 
or five miles up the river this morning, with them, filled each 
keg, and now is round supplying his customers with that ar- 
ticle so necessary ; and this is the only way in which the city 
is furnished ; the water of the wells not being good, and there 



412 AGUADORES, OR WATER-CARRIERS. 

being no aqueduct. The furnishing of water gives employ- 
ment to many agiiadores ; and in every street we will meet 
them, with their burros. Every carrier has a little bell, 
with which, at the gate of a mansion, he makes his arri- 
val known.* Nor is this all that these burros are used 
for; they will carry anything; and more tractable and 
patient animals cannot be found ; and their character cer- 
tainly has been very much abused among us, by making their 
name the very personification of stupidity and stubbornness. 
But here come some more of them; you see they salute these 
water-carriers w^ith a loud bray, M^hich polite attention is 
immediately answered, and then all are still, and take no 
more notice of each other, than though they had not met. 

These, just coming, you observe are loaded with little bags 
of charcoal; which is here used entirely, or almost so, for 
cooking. Little grates, not more than four inches square, 
being their means of raising a heat for cooking; that is, in 
these fine houses; in the others, they cook on the ground. 

Hear how lustily that sooty fellow calls out car-bon, (char- 
coal), through the streets. — We have mentioned before 
the coal-pits from whence he comes. — But look again ; 
there is an odd sight. Do you see that ranchero coming up 
behind the coal drivers, leading a fodder stack ? It follows 
him closely ; it is tall, bulky, and sweeps the ground, yet 
falls not, and passes along without exciting any surprise in 
the patient donkeys around ; but the horse of that cavalry 
soldier seems about to break his neck with fright at the 
stack, which slowly pursues its way. Walk round it : — you 
observe that it is tied together with a small rope ; and is 
well shaped. Lift the leaves that brush the ground, and 
stooping, peep under : — the mystery is solved ; you see the 
hoofs of a patient burro under there. Again walk round, and 
you cannot see a trace of him, head, body, tail, feet, or ears, 
w^hich always are the most prominent objects in this animal. f 

* In Matamoras, the water was taken up from the river, in barrels with iron hoops. 
Each barrel, when full, was bunged up, and a pin being in the centre of either head,, 
with a hide rope attached to them ; the barrel was thus drawn, rolling over and over,, 
by a peon ; no burros being used for that purpose ; but here they do all the work. 

j- There are, near every Mexican city, many persons who make a living by the aid o£" 



PLAZA DE ARMAS. 413 

Here comes three more donkeys, loaded with the green 
leaves of the olmlila, or fodder tree. You observe the street 
is continually busy and crowded with the mixed multitude. 
Let us go on towards the Plaza de Armas, or the principal 
square. 

Upon arriving at the corner, you see the square before 
you, surrounded by good buildings, mostly two stories ; — the 
principal church stands on the opposite side, and the tower, 
(which, in the picture, can be observed), is furnished with a 
large clock, after our own style ; but it strikes the hours on 
a heavy bell, and the quarters on a lighter one. — The inte- 
rior of that church is not so rich as those before described. — 
You observe the whole area of the unpaved square before 
you is taken up by large piles of wagon bodies, axles, wheels, 
bows, and tongues, and many men are engaged in placing 
them together. Nothing here engrosses your attention much, 
save the same mixed throng passing back and forth. 

Let us step over the plaza towards the church : — On the 
■corner we see a building where already, in full operation, are 
a company of American actors, engaged in carrying on the 
"American Theatre ;" and pretty well they do also, and ob- 
tain each night crowded houses, and make much money. — 
Back of this is a large building, formerly occupied for public 
instruction, as the sign over the principal door declares ; but 
now it is used as a hospital. 

Let us pass the sentinel on duty, at the gate at the end 
of the building, and, entering the yard, go round among the 
small interior buildings occupied by Dr. Wright, and several 
assistant surgeons, nurses, guards, and other attendants. — 
Upon entering the main building, you perceive rows of neat 
bedsteads, each with a covering of raw hide, stretched up 
and down either side of the long room, on every one of 
which is a sick soldier. Some are improving, and in a day 
or two will be able to take the fresh air in the pleasant 
yard, where, as we came in, we might have observed seve- 
ral pale looking men seated around. — Others are growing 

three or four burros. These bring loads of wood on their backs, or coal, or sand, or any- 
thing that may be needetl, the burros picking up their own scanty living. The men 
are ^lled burret'us, literally, jackass men, referring to their manner of business. 



414 SCENE IN THE HOSPITAL. 

worse ; one out there has just died ; — see with what a look 
his next comrade turns his weak eyes towards the corpse, 
not knowing but he may go next. — Another there is being 
bathed in warm water, and the surgeon is applying mustard 
plasters to him, endeavoring to keep up his circulation ; but 
it appears as though it was in vain, for the life is nearly out 
of him now. 

Observe how still it is in here, although there are so many 
sick and so many attendants. — See this other surgeon, who 
goes from cot to cot, examining, and giving to the nurses di- 
rections for each. — At the upper part, the attendants are 
coming down from one to another, with tin cups of soup and 
slices of fresh bread, to give to those who can eat. Here, 
sitting upon the side of a bed, you see a weather beaten 
soldier, who, with the tears standing in his eyes, is w^atching 
the convulsive movements of the death-like countenance of 
his sick comrade and mess-mate, over whom, perhaps, when 
both left their native state to serve their country in the field, 
he promised the parents, brothers or sisters of that comrade, 
to watch and to assist. Now he is fulfilling his promise ; 
but the hand of death is on the youth. 

Let us turn away from this mournful stillness, and out of 
this place of sickness and death, and again emerging into 
the street, find ourselves in the bustle of life. — We hear the 
music of a full band at the head of a detachment of soldiers, 
swelling fully out the inspiring strains of Hail Columbia ; 
and the music, so enlivening, drives away all melancholy 
thoughts. — Let us stop at the corner of the plaza, and ad- 
mire the precision of military movement with which they 
pass along. — They are part of the Alabama regiment. 

They have gone, and we will continue our course along up 
the hill, towards the outskirts of the town, and the military 
hospital, already noticed in the picture. In this part of the 
city we will observe that the buildings become smaller, being 
mostly of but one story. The gardens are man}^, with 
ornamental trees growing in them. We observe but few 
stores, or shops of any kind; for this part is occupied princi- 
pally for dwellings. Here and there is a ])anadcria, or bakery, 
which bakes fine bread, and is, in every respect, like our 



PANADERIA, OR BAKERY. 415 

establishments of the baking order, save that these not only 
bake for the living, but also, occasionally, for the dead. — 
They, however, do not have much appetite, and are only fed 
once a year.* 

Upon arriving at the military hospital, we find great exer- 
tions making, to place this part in a situation to resist an 
attack from the interior ; wide, deep ditches are dug, and 
heavy embankments thrown up. The small fort near the 
margin of the lake is nearly finished ; at all of these we no- 
tice many men at work. 

Having taken this walk through the busy city of Tampico, 
we will return along its streets, turning corner after corner, 
until we arrive again at the Plaza de Comercio, at the start- 
ing point, the flag-staff; thence we come along the river, 
seeing only the same bustle, but meeting with many more 
wagons, employed in transportation of stores, for difler- 
ent brigades, encamped around the city. Passing the out- 
skirts of the small houses, we leave the city. A few steps 
bring us to the canal, bridge, and new fort; crossing the 
bridge, on which we find many soldiers, we come out on the 
plain ; on our right, and far extended to the front, lies the 
camp of our brigade, along the river ; and at this, having 
spent the day in the observation of the town, we bid you, 
reader, good night. 

* This refers to a singular custom, or remnant of an old Indian superstition, which 
in nearly all of Mexico, has been like other similar ones, incorporated into their 
present religious belief; and, by the lower classes, is scrupulously observed. — On All 
Saints' Day (first November), the bakeries not only issue their daily amounts of 
bread for the hving, but bake up a number of white, hard loaves, of a i^eculiar shape, 
being circular, like large rings, with a raised top, which is pinched up into hundreds 
of little prominences ; these loaves are called rosea de los miierios, or rusks or loaves 
for the dead. Singular as it may seem, the lower classes buy these, and put them up 
in their houses, for the sustenance of the souls of their deceased friends and relations ; 
and they will tell you, in a serious tone, that such souls had ate such a part of it in one 
night! The loaf remains in the same spot, until the souls have eaten it; i. c., the 
mice, crickets, and roaches have consumed it. — The souls are not fed again until next 
year, on All Saints' day, when, if not forgotten, they get more loaves ! — In what part 
of the world can a more singular exhibition of the darkest superstition be found ? — 
And what is more singular, is, that such an idea is not removed by the priests ; but, 
like many other rites and ceremonies of the ancient Mexicans, this too, has remained, 
and presents a curious instance of a most ridiculous heathen ceremony incorporated 
by the descendants of those heathens, into the Christian religion they profess. 



416 PARADES AND DRILLS. 

Satu7-da7/, February Gth. Gen. Pillow's brigade, as well as all 
the others, were now subjected to severe and continual drill- 
ing. Every day, the plain in front was enlivened by large 
bodies of troops, in their various exercises. The regiments 
of infantry now moved in solid phalanx over the plain ; then 
rapidly deployed in long lines, re-formed in columns, charged, 
threw themselves in hollow squares, &c., &c. The artil- 
lery swept by them, at a rapid rate, whirled round, the 
horses were detached, cannon aimed, and in one minute 
after the first check of speed, the light cloud of smoke arose 
from the gun, and the ball went crashing through a large 
target, about a third of a mile distant from them, at the foot 
of the hill on which is the old fort. Again, in another mo- 
ment, the horses were attached, the riders up, and away went 
the piece to another position, at full speed, and as suddenly 
whirled, unlimbered, aimed, and fired. The howitzers, in the 
same rapid manner, threw shells into the old fort Andonega, 
which loudly exploded there. It was only occasionally, that 
either the artillery, cavalry or infantry fired, in these drills. 
— The evolutions, and practice of loading, &c., were gone 
through with, continually ; but the firing, almost always, was 
imaginary ; for we had no ammunition to throw away. 

The large bodies of the two battalions of our cavalry, can 
be seen, sometimes, coming on, at a rapid trot, in solid mass- 
es ; then, suddenly wheeling, they open to the right and left, 
in detachments, and long imposing columns ; sometimes they 
move slowly, then again, the volumes of dust, suddenly ri- 
sing, as it were, with the whirlwind, shows the charge ; the 
dust obscures them ; far ahead, they emerge from it, rein up, 
and by companies, turn, and double upon, and among, each 
other, in a thousand ways ; yet there is no confusion, no mis- 
takes, by any. The roll of drums, the shrill sound of the fifes, 
and the clear notes of the cavalry bugles, and the deeper 
music of the regular bands, fill the air with martial strains. 
Sometimes these are silent, then, all in concert together. 
The varying scene goes on continually ; — the sunny plain 
every day presents the same striking martial appearance, 
ever varying, but still the same : — parade upon parade, drill 
upon drill, at intervals, from sunrise to sunset. 



M-ARTIAL APPEARANCE OF THE PLAIN. 417 

Sometimes many small squads, each under its officer, are 
practicing the manual of arms, &c.; then the plain is cover- 
ed with companies, each acting singly ; then again larger 
bodies, battalions, are moving independent of one another ; 
then, in the afternoons, each regiment is carrying on, un- 
der the command of its colonel, its regimental manoeuvres ; 
then again the whole brigade is acting in concert, under the 
general ; — the whole appearance is such as can only be wit- 
nessed in the performances of an army in the field. The 
beauty, variety, and precision of movements, never can be 
seen in parades and reviews at home ; — they can only be 
executed by bodies of soldiers who for months have made 
it their business. — And now, while, from time to time, we 
speak of the camp and scenes around it, the reader will bear 
in mind this principal martial view, accompanied by the 
music, continually going on over the area of the plain be- 
fore the camp, save for a few intervals, of a Sunday or 
two, and during the severe blowing of the northers. — ■ 
At daylight, at seven, A. M., at eleven, A. M., at three, P. 
M.J and at five, P. M., the principal drills and parades take 
place, and, save at meal times, the plain never is bare. — 
The weeds, which grew upon it on our arrival, are all tram- 
pled down, and it is level as a floor. 

February t7th. This was a most lovely day; and the 

sun shone pleasantly on the beautiful river, on the green hills 

opposite, on the city in the distance, on the camp and the 

plain. — It was warm, pleasant, bright and still. Before the 

sea breeze rose, not a breath of air was stirring ; — and every 

sound was distinct. The flags over the city, and those on the 

lofty masts of the shipping near it, drooped motionless from 

their staffs ; — the screams and chattering of the numbers of 

parrots, of brilliant plumage, in the forests opposite the 

camp, came with distinctness across the calm surface of the 

water. Upon the river, here and there, were long canoes, the 

paddles of which, now and then dipped in the surface, glided 

them quietly on ; while the little undulations from their 

movements caused the rays of the morning sun to dance, as 

it were, on its bosom. 

Below was a vessel, which, for the want of the slightest 
27 



418 CAMP SCENES. 

wind, had let go her anchor, to retain her in the same po- 
sition, while her white sails were still stretched above, court- 
ing the renewal of the breeze. The crew were leaning over 
her sides, gazing out on the camp that was spread before 
them. 

The city and the camp were still. — In the former, the bells 
calling the people to " mass " had ceased their tones, and in 
the latter, the drums, the fifes, the bugles, and the instru- 
ments of the bands were all silent : for, a wonder, Sunday 
had been recognized, and there was no drill, no parade, no 
movements. — The long line of succeeding infantry sentinels, 
that extended in front of the entire brigade, at regular inter- 
vals, from the bridge on the left, towards the town, down to 
the bend of the river, on the right, seemed as if struck with 
the stillness and beauty of the scene before and around them, 
and were motionless also. — They leaned on their muskets^ 
at their posts along, from space to space. 

Now, reader, while all is thus reposing, let us turn our at- 
tention to the tents, and see at what the boys are engaging 
themselves ; for, at all times when they are at leisure, their 
occupation and movements are about the same, and a glance 
at this leisure day, shows for all. 

Let us walk round in the cavalry regiment. — The horses 
are still ; tied with their long lariats ; — they seem dozing in 
the pleasant sun. — At the line of tents nearest to us, you 
observe the captain's marquee, with a crowd around it, sit- 
ting on the bales of hay and bags of corn, that have been 
sent for the use of the company. — They are engaged in con- 
versation with respect to our next probable movements. 

At the first tent in the line we will stop and look in. — We 
see a couple of the men sitting down in the little space, 
amid carbines, swords, pistols, blankets, &c., engaged in wri- 
ting letters on pieces of barrel heads, which are placed across 
their knees. — They have obtained their sheets of paper from 
the officers, (to whom, every quarter, a quantity is allowed 
by the government), and are busy ; being prompted by see- 
ing so many vessels arriving and departing from the United 
States, and also by receiving letters from home. Two of 



APPEARANCE WITHIN THE TENTS. 419 

their mess-mates are on the sides of the tent, on their blan- 
kets, asleep, and appear very comfortable. 

Leaving them, another step or two brings us to the second 
tent. — The flap is closed, and the tent is, as it w^ere, shut 
up. Let us open it, and enter : — There is but one man with- 
in, and he is mending his bridle ; — the whole bottom of the 
tent is filled with baggage and arms. — In comes a comrade, 
who, in a low voice, asks him " if he has got anything." 
He nods. " Hand it out, then." He drops his bridle, and 
reaching over, pulls out, from under the blankets, a bottle 
of brandy, and sells the other a dram, for a bit ; but it is 
done in a very quiet manner, for it is contrary to the regu- 
lations of the camp.* 

At the third tent, we find some of the boys asleep, and 
a couple cooking behind it ; — they have been up in town 
and bought some beef and vegetables, and having- bor- 
rowed a camp-kettle from another mess, are trying their hand 
at making soup, for a rarity. They have got some light 
bread from the bakery, some pepper, and several little arti- 
cles, and they seem as much engaged in making their soup 
as though it was to be of immense advantage to them. — 

* Liquor the soldiers would have ; and they worked many schemes to be able to 

obtain it At Victoria, where no spirituous liquors, save muscal, could be procured, 

many of the soldiers made a profitable business by buying it from the Mexicans, (who 
are fearful, on account of the prohibitory commands of our general, to sell it to us by 
the small quantity), and with a canteen on their sides, and a little cup in their pockets, 
were ready, when one raised his finger, to step round a corner, or into some court- 
yard, and pour them out a drink for a real, or bit. — These " traveling groceries," as the 
soldiers called them, could be met in any street. The officers would pass by them, as 
they strolled about, never suspecting anything of the kind. So, in spite of all restric- 
tions put upon them, the soldiers would manage to get their drams. 

And so it is here, in Tampico. — By order of Gen. Patterson, severe punishment has 
been inflicted on the bar keepers, both Americans and Mexicans, in the town, for selling^ 
spirituous liquors. — But our soldiers buy it from the Mexicans in quantities, and< 
bring it into camp, and silently sell it to their comrades in their tents. — Every morn- 
ing you may see men walking silently and carelessly up the lines, and then suddenly 
diving into a tent ; — all is still there, but lift the flap, or the door, and you can see the- 
vender pouring, from an old black bottle, a dram into a mug; — the soldier lays his bit 
on the blanket, drinks the liquor, wipes his mouth, lifts the flap and goes out, as if no- 
thing had happened. — The bottle is put away again in the corner of the tent, under 
the pile of arms and loose blankets, and the vender walks out too, until another silent 
customer gives him the wink. — Brandy, muscal, aguardiente, or some other spiritu- 
ous liquors, they will have. 



420 SCENES IN THE TENTS. 

You will smile to see what value they set upon it ; but if 
you had been through the hard times that they have, and 
were in their position now, a dish of hot soup would appear 
to you to be indeed a luxury. — There are two more of the 
men there who do not belong to that mess, and with each 
one of these they have struck a trade : — One is to get them 
an arm-full of wood, for which he will have to go at least a 
mile, and bring it on his shoulder ; — the other is to go to the 
cistern at the canal, a half a mile, and bring back a bucket 
of water for them : for these services, they are to get a cup 
of soup a-piece ; and both think they have made good trades, 
and start immediately to perform them. 

At the next tent, crowded at its door with bags of oats, 
are, within, several seated on a blanket, playing "old sledge," 
while another has got a novel, which has been read about 
the camp until it is hardly readable, and is passing away the 
time in deciphering it. 

At another tent, the fire is kindled, and a chap is pound- 
ing coffee with the muzzle of his carbine, and is quarreling 
all the time with his mess-mates about the cooking, declar- 
ing that it is not his day in turn, &c., and swearing that 
hereafter he will cook for himself alone, &c., &c. In this 
tent are the mess-mates, some of them asleep, others endeav- 
oring to mend up their uniforms and other clothing, and 
keeping up the dispute with the one who is cooking. 

In the next, you see a water bucket, with a full supply of 
water, and a pan of fried pork, and hard bread, to which the 
boys of the mess are about to apply themselves for a dinner. 

In the succeeding tent, a general cleaning of arms is going 
on ; for one of the mess has been lucky enough to get hold 
of a little sweet oil, and all of them are availing themselves 
of the opportunity ; and with much conversation, and many 
tales to one another, they appear to pass the time very pleas- 
antly. 

In the next one are many collected, to hear a man who is 
telling amusing tales, and many a loud laugh comes from 
there. — After he is done, another sings a song in high glee. 
Let us peep in : — They have got several bottles of brandy 
-cherries, and they insist upon our taking some of them* — 



SCENES IN THE TENTS. 421 

(These are procured from the sutler, who, as he is not al- 
lowed to sell spirits, thus evades the restriction, and his 
brandy cherries go off like hot cakes). 

We will go on. — At the next, we see more writing letters^ 
sewing, &c., and several at a game of euchre. — At the next, 
we find all engaged in a general dressing and cleaning up, 
having had their clothing returned from the Mexican wash- 
erwomen, who have made it look new. — They are evidently 
much pleased with their change in appearance. — In front 
of this tent, as well as of several others that we have 
passed, down the line, you observe many of the men spend- 
ing much time and pains in rubbing and currying their 
horses ; and in the meanwhile they are talking to them, and 
patting them, and so accustomed have the horses become 
each to his rider, during the long march, that he knows him 
as far as he can see him, and will express it by neighing, and 
if loose, will come up to him. A horse could not be driven 
from near the camp, and it takes them but one feed to learn 
them their particular place ; and, if turned loose, they will 
each come to it at night. — These men are devoting their 
leisure time to the attention required by their horses, and 
they could spend it in no better way. 

Let us look for a moment upon this group in the next and 
last tent, busily employed at a game of poker. The tent is 
not much larger in area than that which is covered by a 
double bedstead, about eight feet by ten. In this little 
place, covered with blankets on the bottom, are now nine 
persons. — At the back is a pile of carbines, cartridge-boxes, 
swords, holster pistols, &c.; — on the side are two of the 
mess-mates, stretched out and wrapped in their blankets, 
trying to sleep ; but they can scarcely do it : for, crowded 
upon them, set the chaps at poker. — A green blanket serves 
them for a table. — There are five at play, and everyone busy. 
— Grains of coffee, called checks, ranking as picayunes each, 
are on the blanket before them. — Nearest is a small man, 
with a quick, restless eye, who shuffles and deals off the 
cards with the sobriety of a senator. — Hear him quickly say, 
as he throws down a couple of grains, "I bet two checks; 
what will you do, Sam ? " — see with what eagerness they all 



422 SCENES IN THE TENTS. 

look on, as they compare their hands, and the highest rakes 
down the heap ; — and so they go on for hours ; — the same 
scene and words, — " I pass," — " I bet a check," — " I see your 
check, and go three better," — " I go four blind," — " I call 
you," with little dispute, occasionally, about putting up their 
" anties ;" with sometimes a loud laugh from the winner, and 
then a muttered exclamation from a loser, who, thinking he 
had held the best hand, had bet freely upon it, and then 
found, to his disappointment, that another held a better one. 

We have now passed down one line of tents, or one com- 
pany ; each company in the regiment, and each one of the 
regiments of the brigade, will be found engaged in nearly the 
same ways. It is so all over the camp. Let us now look along 
the shore of the river, near to which our walk down the line 
of tents has brought us. — Here, we find seated on the low 
bank, many groups of men, who are looking on the beauti- 
ful scene before them, of the peaceful river, with the vessels 
passing up and down ; for the sea breeze now gently blows, 
though the surface of the water is yet unruffled. They are 
watching the porpoises, who throw their large backs out of 
tlie water, blow, and then disappear. An enormous turtle 
occasionally appears. — Passing along, we see other men, 
catching crabs, in the shallow water ; these are very nume- 
rous, and with a short pole, a line with a piece of meat on 
it, and little dip net, one man catches from twenty to thirty 
in an hour.* Others we see, walking the shore, apparently 
in thought; though there are not many of these, most having 
laid aside the task of thinking, as a continual job, to be ta- 
ken up on their return home. — Now, reader, we have given 
you a sample of the crowded camp, when in a state of rest 
and quiet. Of course, we have not mentioned all particu- 
lars, but enough to furnish you a definite and correct idea 
of the way in which we employ our time when off" duty ; and 
knowing it upon one day, you know it upon all. , , 

Monday, February 8th. As mentioned, in the note ap- 

* Besides these sea crabs, which were fine eating, the whole plain was covered with 
the holes of the land crab ; — these were not fit to eat, but were a curiosity to our men. 
They were of a blue color, the body somewhat larger than a hen's egg, long claws, 
and the way they could " scud it," sideways, over the ground, to their holes, when 
pursued, "wasn't slow." 



PREPARING FOR A MARCH. 423 

pended, our company, G, after spending half the night in 
cooking provisions, and preparing forage for a three day's 
cruise, against Gen. Cos, to assist the wrecked Louisianians,* 
had marched to town, and upon the reception of the news 
of their safety, had returned to camp. One of the principal 
attractions in a soldier's life, is the total uncertainty of the 

THE WRECKED LOUISIANIANS. 

* On this day, in Tampico, much anxiety was felt for the safety of four companies 
of the Louisiana regiment, under Col. De Russey, who had been wrecked a few days 
before this, in the ship Ondiaka, some thirty-five or forty miles south of the mouth 
of this river. Gen. Patterson, as soon as the news of the wreck came to hand 
dispatched to their relief, a steamboat by sea ; and by land, forty dragoons, a full 
atajo, or sixty pack mules, with five day's rations for the four companies ; and, for the 
officers, sent fifteen saddle-horses. A report reaching us the next day, that the detach- 
ment were about to be attacked on the beach, by Gen. Cos, who had a considerable 
force to the southward, at Tuspan, but farther from the wreck than we were, Gen. 
Patterson ordered one company from our regiment, and one company of infantry, from 
Col. Campbell's, to march on the following morning. — Our company, G, was ordered 
by Col. Thomas, this evening, to be off by daylight. Every one jumped at the 
chance. We were ready, mounted, and marched into town, with the company of 
infentry ; but as we were about to enter the steamboat, to be set across the river, the 
other boat, which had been sent out the day before, came puffing in, and landed 
some officers, who reported the detachment safe, and on its march for this place. 
All anxiety was at once relieved in the city and camp ; and we were ordered back, 
by the general. The same day the command arrived safely, and in good condition. 
No one had been lost in the wreck, for the ship did not go to pieces ; and after the gale 
abated, they had but little difticulty in getting ashore. They were warmly greeted by 
all ; they appeared as brothers, from the interest felt in their safety, for the few days 
back — But a shade was thrown over the general relief, by the announcement that the 
march had been made with such precipitancy, that all the sick unable to keep up, were 
left along, from time to time, to fall into the hands of the enemy ; who treat all such 
willi no mercy. — The condemnations of their colonel, by his officers and men, for this 
precipitate march, and abandonment of the sick, were neither few nor low ; and the 
same feeling, from them, was imparted to all others through the different camps ; which 
feeling, on the fourth day afterwards, was increased, by the appearance of the sick men ; 
who had slowly dragged themselves on, up the sea-beach, until they arrived at the 
mouth of the river, and fallowing that up, had come opposite our camp, and waved their 
hats on poles; which being perceived, was made known to Gen. Pillow, who immedi- 
ately sent boats for them. — They were much exhausted, still sick, having had notliing 
to eat for the whole time, save some sea-fowls, which they had shot. One was suffer- 
ing from a large blister, which had been placed upon him before he was abandoned. — 
The alarm of being pursued, they pronounced untrue, for they had not seen a hostile 
Mexican after being left. When asked about their ammunition (of which, in excuse, 
it had been said, that the detachment were out), they showed their cartridge-boxes 
with a good supply. Many men, with indignant expression of countenance, crowded 
around the poor fellows, as they came ashore. While the boat landed the first, the 
others made their appearance ; and, to our great joy, we found that all were safe. 



424 ABSENCE OF CARE WITH SOLDIERS. 

future, even for an hour; no calculation is made; no thought 
is taken ; we wait for orders, and are ready to execute them, 
of whatever kind they may be. One soon gets tired of 
making any plans for the future, save for the time when 
again he shall arrive at home ; and all feel, wdth regai'd to 
themselves, that this is so uncertain, that those plana 
are few. When a definite order is delivered, we know 
immediately what to do ; but that order may be counter- 
maiided, and we return to our former state ; so that we 
think but of the moment, and let the future take care of 
itself. This absence of all care, is certainly, what at home, 
in busy life, is never experienced ; and in whatever light 
those at home, who never tried it, may view it, it proves to 
us very pleasant. One is peculiarly fitted to enjoy the pre- 
sent, and the days pass lightly away. It was on this ac- 
count, that all were continually so full of sport ; even the 
foreheads of many that had, when first they joined the army, 
a contracted appearance of thought, now seemed relieved, 
appeared smoother, and their countenances were brighter. 
If difficulties and hardships came, they endured them while 
remaining ; but they had not suffered them in anticipation ; 
and of the troubles of life generally, those of anticipated 
evils make up no small proportion. On this day was a differ- 
ence of scene, from that expected ; for the author, as well as 
all his company, had received orders to go on a hard march, 
and attack the enemy ; but that march had only been a plea- 
sant little ride into town and back ; and the rest of the day 
he spent in company with Capt. Sneed, and two or three 
others, in a delightful little excursion, in a sail-boat, down 
the beautiful river (as seen in the second picture), and over 
the bar,* out into the wild waves of old ocean; passing the 
day very agreeably, and returning as the sun was declining 
in the west. 

Tuesday, February 9lh. We have lost three men, by death, 
while here encamped : M. Brady, of Capt. Gillespie's com- 

* From this point, which is the left hand one seen in the view, at the mouth of the 
river, Tampico bar stretches across the mouth from N. W. to S. E.; the depth of 
water on it, is about ten feet. The position of this bar, is, according to the nautical 
charts, 22° 17' north latitude, and 98° 24' west longitude. 



SICKNESS IN CAMP. 425 

pany, who died two or three days since ; C. S. Rungan of 
Capt. Evans', died day before yesterday ; and Sergeant J. A. 
Smith, of Capt. Marshall's company, died yesterday. They 
were buried under the hill, seen in the picture, near the old 
fort. There were many dying in town, at the hospital. The 
climate and air, although very pleasant to the senses, do not 
appear to agree with many of our men ; and sickness, when 
taken, is unusually fatal; few seem to recover, when severely 
attacked. Probably the change of air, experienced in our 
coming down from the mountains so elevated, to the lower 
coast, has a deleterious effect upon their constituitions. A 
man is here not sick long ; he dies or recovers in a short time. 

The weather now, is extremely hot ; and the direct heat 
of the sun, before the sea-breeze rises in the morning, is 
compared, by many, to that experienced in standing a few 
feet off from a log fire. The heat of the direct rays cer- 
tainly is intense, "^hile men perspire freely, they do not 
appear to be affected by it ; but if one gets a little cold, and 
his perspiration is checked, he is thrown into a high fever 
immediately; and then, as the numerous deaths show, the 
chances are against him. 

Wednesday, February 10th. Last night, we lay down in 
our crowded little tents, without covering, suffering much on 
account of the extreme heat ; but before morning, a norther 
burst down upon us, and the air became immediately very 
cold, and the wind came up the bend of the river, career- 
ing with power. When we turned out to roll call, it re- 
quired an extra blanket upon our shoulders, to keep us com- 
fortable. The parade following, was extremely unpleasant 
on the plain, from the strong wind and clouds of dust ; our 
horses, being chilled, were almost unmanageable ; we gal- 
loped round, formed lines, columns, files, platoons, &c., and 
w^ere heartily rejoiced to be released at last, and get into our 
tents for shelter. — The river was lashed into breaking waves, 
that dashed upon the shore near us, with a continual tumult. 
In the afternoon, the wind blowing still stronger, Capt. 
Sneed, and many of the men rode down to the mouth of the 
river at the beach, to old ocean in its majesty, when his bil- 
lows, chased and driven by the strong, keen blasts bursts in 



426 THE PHILOSOPHER AND HIS HORSE, ROSINANTE. 

thunder on the shore. The rolHng mountain waves, as they 
dashed in, excited the astonishment of all. 

Ingram, the philosopher mentioned before, went with them 
to observe the scene. Ingram, thin-visaged and lean in his 
person, rides a tall frame of a horse, equally lean, with sunken 
eyes, hip-bones and ribs standing out in relief against his 
tight hide, his hair standing every way. — It is a wonder to 
all that he has lived so long, or survived the labors of the 
campaign. This tall, raw-boned frame, Ingram calls Rosi- 
nante; and surely, from Cervantes' description of Don Quix- 
otte's steed, there are many points of resemblance between 
the two. Rosinante has been unable, for some time, to carry 
his master, being afflicted with general weakness, tightness 
of hide, contraction of the stomach, and skinned upon the 
prominent ridges of the backbone ; but in the two vi^eeks he 
has remained here, having had twelve quarts of oats a day, 
has somewhat recruited, though the ph^osopher declares he 
could eat thirty-six, and says that he would fatten if he had 
that quantity, — and probably he might upon that : — but he is 
so old that his teeth are all out, and he swallows both corn 
and oats without mastication, and nothing but a large amount 
of forage could at all fatten him. He has been assisted in 
his general state of health, by large doses of nux vomica, 
administered to him by his master. 

The philosopher rode him on parade to-day, for the first 
time since our arrival here ; and, after parade, went down 
with the party to the sea beach. The waves, as before said, 
were rolling far up, and the party would follow a retiring 
wave, and then, suddenly turning their horses, retreat at full 
speed from the next one, w^hich came in at a rapid, threaten- 
ing rate, towards them ; and, escaping its fury, follow that 
out when returning, and again retreat from the next angry 
billow that advanced. 

The third wave that followed was of larger size, and all 
save the philosopher escaped it ; he thought, that by making 
Rosinante rear up as the wave came, he would plunge over 
it ; — and he reined him up, stuck the spurs to him, and 
charged the curling billow, that threw up its foaming crest 
far above the rearing Rosinante, and far above the philoso- 



BEEF FOR GENERAL COS. 427 

plier's head, as well as above his previous calculations, and 
broke down upon them all with power ; knocked off the rider, 
and covered him up in the foam, sending him far away from 
Rosinante, who, with saddle and bridle, was rolling over and 
over in the billows. 

The wave retreated ; — both horse and rider, now far sep- 
arated, endeavored to rise. — The next billow broke down 
and rolled them over and over again ; — the next served them 
in the same way ; but both, at last, nearly exhausted, ob- 
tained foothold, and got out, with the salt water running in 
streams off of them. — Rosinante held down his head, and 
mustered strength to shake his bones ; — the philosopher, 
dripping and exhausted, got upon him, and they took a " bee 
.line" for the camp. 

Friday, February I2th. A little excitement helped us out 
"this day. — It was caused by some Mexicans, who were en- 
deavoring to swim a large drove of several hundred cattle, 
across the river, about two miles below our camp, to drive 
them down to the Mexican general, Cos. — On account of the 
lakes above, they were forced to cross here. It was a bold 
move ; but in the night they had succeeded in crossing about 
half of them, before it was known to our generals. Several 
companies of our regiment were ordered to saddle up, and 
while part went down on one side, the steamer conveyed the 
others across the river, and they passed down on that side ; — 
the whole drove was captured. — The drovers and peones, 
some twenty-five in number, were taken prisoners, and 
they, together with about forty pack mules, brought up to 
town. 

Saturday, February ISih. During the time we had been 
here, but few crimes were committed ; — scarcely any mur- 
ders, or stabbing, so common near Matamoras and in the 
valley of the Rio Grande. — These people were a better sort 
than those of the frontier. Our generals wished, as before 
said, to learn them something more than they already knew 
about our customs ; and wished to introduce among them 
the form of trial by jury, a thing they never heard of. 

An opportunity about this time offered. — An American cit- 
izen was killed by a Mexican. — The murderer was appre- 



428 SEARCH OF SHERIFF FOR "LOCKS." 

hended ; a judge, sheriff, and clerk, were appointed by the 
general ; and the criminal court of Tampico opened its ses- 
sions, to the utter astonishment of the old administrators of 
justice, the alcaldes. The panel of jurors was summoned, 
and a trial took place in due form. The Mexican was con- 
victed, and sentenced to be hung ; but evaded that part of 
the business, by escaping from confinement. 

The whole proceedings of this new court caused much 
merriment among the men ; more especially when the sheriff 
was most busily enquiring for Mr. Locks, of the Tennessee 
cavalry, whom he had summoned, the previous evening, as a 
juror. — Each one could direct him to the whereabouts of Mr. 
Locks : — he was in such a store, near by, or around such a 
corner ; — every one had just seen him ; and the poor sheriff 
was run nearly down, in looking for him. He must have 
supposed that Mr. Locks was hard to find ; — and so he was, 
for he was often hunted, but never found, as far as we ever 
heard. As his name became so known to the regiment, we 
will speak of him in the note.* 

"locks" and " cogle." 
* Locks was a queer fellow, and cut up more rustles, shines, and capers, than all 
others in the company and regiment ; and we will introduce to the reader this chap 
" Locks," and his relative, " Cogle," of the Kentucky regiment of cavalry, and relate a 
few of their numerous peccadillos. Both are fictitious characters; and Locks was first 
heard of in our regiment, and Cogle in the Kentucky, as long ago as when both were 
encamped near Memphis, in Tennessee. — Col. Marshall, of that regiment of Kentuck- 
ians, was strict and positive in his orders, and all firing of guns in the camp, among 
other things, was forbidden ; and the oflRcer of the day was instructed to take all of- 
fenders against this order into immediate custody. — Some of the men, full of fun, con- 
trived and carried out the following scheme, to annoy the officer. Several went into ■ 
the woods, at the lower part of the camp, and one discharged a gun, and immediately 
disappeared among the hushes; the others remained on the spot, strolling around; — 
presently, the officer came down in a hurry, and wished to know who fired that gun. 
They told him that a chap named Cogle had done it, and then cleared himself He 
asked to what company he belonged ; they directed him to one, where they had left a 
man, to tell him that Cogle belonged to another ; where, also, he was to be sent to the 
third, and so on. He hurried on, from company to company ; sometimes Cogle was 
here, and sometimes there ; one had just seen him in a certain tent ; there they told 
him he had gone to the next, until, after a weary search, the officer reported that Cogle 
fired the gun, but was not to be found. 

When the regiment arrived at Little Rock, one of the soldiers committed a crime, 
for which he was placed in prison ; a number of his companions, disguising them- 
selves, forced the jail in the night, and released him. This transaction greatly iiacensed 



EFFECT OF SLIGHT COLD ON MEXICANS. 429 

Saturday, February 13th. A pleasant day, but cool ; for 
the wind was still from the north. The drills were short, 
and many devoted the day to strolling around, in city and 
camp. — Many went up into the city, to seek at the post-office, 
here established, letters from home. The author w^ent for 
the same reason, as well as to pick up any items of news, 
that might have been received, as to our future movements ; 

but no letters had arrived for many days ; and as to 

news, there was none. Nothing could be known until Gen. 
Scott arrived, and no one knew where he was, save that he 
was on the coast somewhere. — The cool weather had in- 
duced all the Mexicans, walking in the streets, or crowded 
in the markets, to closely wrap themselves in their horongos 
and scrapes ; and they appeared as cold as our people at 
home would do in a snow-storm. There were just as many 
of them, however, on the edge of the square, seated around, 
with their wares and provisions to sell, as before, and they 
made as much noise. — One thing was not mentioned about 
these little traders, that in such numbers are found in every 

" LOCKS " AND " COGLE." 

the colonel, who offered a reward for the ringleader of the party, and his associates. 
The jailor, too, was indefatigable in his endeavors to recognise them in the regiment ; 
but, among the multitude of strange faces, was unable so to do — A party of the sol- 
diers, who had been into town, on a frolic, and who had run dry of the means to get 
anything more to drink, met the jailor in the street, and told him, that if he would 
treat them, they would inform him who was the leader of the crowd that forced the 
jail ; — that they regretted much the whole transaction, and that, moreover, he must 
keep the source from whence he obtained the information entirely secret. This he 
promised gladly ; and he treated the party to punches and juleps, as much as they could 
carry, with what they had taken before. They then infonned him, that Cogle was the 
man who got up the plan of attacking the jail, and that he had headed the crowd ; but 

that they did not know to which company he belonged The jailor hastened to Col. 

Marshall, who had fretted and fumed about the matter, threatening vengeance against 
the offender. "When the jailor gave him the ir.formation he had received, the colonel 
immediately made out an order for Cogle's arrest ; and the provost-marshal commenced 
the search for him. He was directed from company to company ; from tent to tent ; 
into town, at certain groceries, and out of town to other places ; till the poor provost 
was heartily tired out, and had to give up the chase. Cogle was not yet caught. 

When the regiment arrived at Washington, Arkansas, they remained there seven 
days ; and Cogle was still at his tricks. — The colonel had a bill presented to him by 
one of the citizens of the town, for butter, eggs, hams, and market vegetables, bought 
for him by his servant " Cogle," the day previous. The colonel declared that Cogle 
was not his servant, that he had heard of the man, but had not yet been able to 
recognise him. 



430 TAXES IN MEXICAN TOWNS. 

Mexican town, which is, the taxes that they have to pay. — 
Not a load of wood on a jackass, not a little trifle of char- 
coal, not a dozen bunches of fodder, a basket of oranges, a 
pig, quarter of beef, a few pine-apples, or a bag of red pep- 
per, or anything else enters a Mexican town without a cor- 
responding little duty being exacted on it, and must be paid 
at the entrance. — These people are taxed in every possible 
shape and manner. 

"locks" and "coule." 

When the regiment arrived at Port Lavacca, two of the soldiers walked out iVotn the 
camp, and one shot a goat, belonging to a Frenchman, who resided near by ; and his 
comrade went to the Frenchman and told him of the fact, and condemned Cogle for it, , 
in the most unmeasured terms. The Frenchman was very " wrathy," but expressed 
himself under " de mos great obligations " to the informer, treated hirn plentifully to 
good old brandy, and immediately laid his complaint before Col. Marshall, demanding 
redress. Strangely, but from the amount of business on his hands, the colonel had 
forgotten Cogle ; and in a few moments, the provost-marshal had in hands an order for 
his arrest, and was looking for him ; but, of course, the search was vain ; and he, as well 
as the colonel and the complaining Frenchman, found that " Cogle" was the personifi- 
cation of " nobody." The Frenchman got no satisfaction for the loss of his goat, and 
left the camp amid the shouts of " Cogle ! " " Cogle ! " to his extreme annoyance. 

About this time, there arrived at Lavacca thirty of our regiment, who had been sick 
at Memphis, and left there ; and who now came round by water. They were under 
the command of Lieut. Seaman, and were encamped near the Kentuckians. Some of 
the men of the regiment, too, had been sent ahead, and arrived there seven days be- 
fore us. Lieut. Anderson, of our own company, went with them ; and they all ro- 
mained in Seaman's little camp. The Kentuckians, in the mean time, shifted their 
camp, five miles lower down. 

Seaman's men became tired of their salt pork ; and some went hunting, but had no 
success; returning, they came near this same Frenchman's place, and seeing, in tlie 
prairie beyond, a fat yearling, they shot it, and brought the meat to camp ; and it was 
soon distributed among the messes, and was in the kettles, boiling for dinner. — The 
Frenchman soon "smelt the rat," and came down to their encampment, and examin- 
ing the kettles, saw the meat ; and looking at the unskinned legs and hoofs of the year- 
ling, discovered that it was the missing one. — He went up to the Ueutenant's tent ; 
Lieut. Seaman was absent, but Lieut. Anderson was there, reading. — The sides of the 
tent were looped up, to allow the fresh sea-breeze to pass through ; and Hamilton, an 
old negro, who cooked for Seaman, was busy about his dinner without, and to hiin 
the Frenchman began talking, in a rapid and vociferous manner, about his " pull 
— ^his leetle plack pull ! — and who killed his pull ? — and he vould have satisfiiction 
for his plack pull," &c. He attracted Anderson's attention, who asked him what ho 
wanted. — " I vants satisfaction for my pull, my leetle plack pull ; for I have anoder 
plack pull, and next year I vill have a yoke of pulls!" — Anderson, knowing that 
the bull had been killed, told him to name his price, and he should be paid. — " No, 
no,'' said the Frenchman, "I sail have no pay ! I vants no pay for my leetle plack 
pull ; I vants satisfaction ; I vant him who kill my plack pull to be punish ; for I 



"TOMALES CALIENTES." 431 

This morning, a full supply of all articles sold here was 
brought in; the ugly old hags, with the hot tomdes steaming in 
their pots, were squalling out their lomales calientes! more: often 
than before; and they had many customers, to whom the hot 
bits went well in the cold air. — Every Mexican that we 
met, as we passed him, had the same expression, with his 
arms under his blanket, holding that up to his neck, and 
muffling it around his mouth and chin, with his eyes and no.-^e 

"locks" and " cogle." 
have anoder leetle plack pull, and next year I vill have a yoke of plack pulls; I vants 
satisfaction — who kill my pull ? " — Anderson told him it was Cogle, of the Kentucky 
regiment, not dreaming that he had ever heard of Cogle. The name struck the 
Frenchman all aback ; throwing up his hands, and turning short on his heel, he 
shook his head, saying bitterly, " G — d d — n Cogles ! I knows him before ; he kill 
my goat ! " off he went, and came back no more. 

What Cogle is in the Kentucky regiment, " Locks" is in ours. All missing articles, 
■when inquired for, are found to be taken by Locks — If mischief is done, and looked 
into, Locks is found at the bottom of it ; and many have been the searches after him, 
and many a threat has been made against him, by those who have been trying to hunt 
him up, being directed back and forth continually. 

" Who took my bridle, last night ? " shouted the sergeant, early one morning, when 
preparing to saddle up for the day's march.— Far down in the line came up, repeated 
several times, "Locks got it.'' — " G-d d-m-n Locks," was the reply. — A soldier broke 
by the guard ; information was given by the sentinel, and the offender's name was 
found to be Locks ; and much search was made to fuid him out, but he had disap- 
peared. 

A man lost his blanket coat, when intoxicated, as far back as the Trinity river, 
in Texas : — one of our company found it, and wore it. About a month afterwards, 
when we were encamped near Victoria, Texas, the owner, having seen it upon him at 
a distance, about supper time, came into camp to inquire after it. Lieut. Anderson 
told him that Locks had it, and that he was cooking his supper at the sixth fire down 
the line. Daniels, an old soldier of the Florida war, who belonged to that mess, was 
cooking ; was, as usual, crabbed and cross as a snapping-turtle, especially when cooking 
over the hot fire ; with his butcher-knife in his hand, and, with his sour looking phiz, 
he appeared like a malicious spirit, brooding on revenge. He was in his worst mood ; 
th^ sweat rolled off his face, and, as he stood looking at the frying meat, he appeared 
as though he would swallow meat, frying-pans, and a few of the burning coals, for a 
trifle. The owner of the coat approached, through the bushes, pretty near him, but did 
not much hke his appearance, and stopped. Some of us followed in the thicket, to 
hear the noise, which we knew was coming ; (for, in our company, to call a man 
Locks was a quick insult ; for it was to accuse him of numberless petty thefts, and little 
rascalities). Looking on for a moment or two, the man, in quite a subdued tone, said, 
" Mr. Locks, will you step this way, if you please 1 " — We were silent, biting our lips. 
Daniels heard him, but, as the man was nearly behind, did not notice it, not knowing 
that he was addressed ; but continued graspuig his long knife, and looking savagely 
in the fire. — He called again, a Uttle louder — " Mr. Locks." — Daniels, casting his eyea 



432 REGULAR BAND OF MUSIC. 

just seen between the large fold and his wide-brimmed som- 
jjpero, — ^^buennsdias, Scnorcs; liace 7nucho frio ! (it is very cold) ; 
and, with a shiver, he passed on. 

The band of regular musicians were making the plaza, 
this morning, resound to the swells of their notes, and they 
appeared to sound more clearly than usual ; though, at all 
times, they play in a most excellent manner, and their music 
is so attractive to the population, that every calm, pleasant 

"•locks'' and " cogle." 
up, saw the man, standing at a respectful distance ; and, to his surprise, too, saw that 
he was looking at him, with his hand raised, beckoning for him to come there. — " Mr. 
Locks," as he caught his eye, "step this" — " G-d d-m-n your half-made soul," 
shouted Daniels, jumping towards him with his knife, " do you call me Locks'?" — 
The man, retreating, held up his hand, — " Mr. Locks, you have got my coat." Tliis 
made Daniels ten times more furious than ever. " You say I have stolen your coat, 
you d-m puppy." 

The man endeavored to apologise, but to no effect ; for, in his alarm at the storm he 
had raised, he kept repeating " Mr. Locks," and " his coat," and Daniels was furious ; 
and we had quickly to interfere, to stop the storm. — " You had better be getting away 
from here," shouted Daniels to him, as we held him from pursuit. — The man took 
him at his word, and cleared. — He came next day and got his coat, from another — the 
one who had found it. 

The adjutant of the regiment, one hot day, upon the march, in the heat and dust, 
was suffering for the want of eatables and water. At the head of the column, he 
was directed to Locks, a little down the lines, who, he was told, had a plentiful sup- 
ply of cold beef, bread, &c., with a large gourd of water. Riding down the lines, he 
inquired industriously for Mr. Locks, and was directed by everyone down farther, un- 
til he was in a fair way to arrive at the rear of the column ; — and would have done so 
but for a young Irishman, who burst into a loud haw-haw, when inquired of, and in- 
formed the adjutant that he was after a fictitious character. 

Corporal Rhoton, of our company, a young man of fine disposition, but sometimes, 
irritable when joked too hard, a few days since in town, got rather high, from the ef- 
fects of a bottle of brandy cherries, and came to camp in that way. After carrying 
on sport for some time, to the amusement of all, he stretched out his blanket, and lay 
down to rest. One of the regular soldiers, in the meantime, came into our camp to 
find clothes to wash (following that in all his leisure time, at the cistern, by the 
canal). Our men told him that although they had no articles of clothing to wash at 
that time, that Lieut. Locks had many, and directed him up the lines, to seek him. 
— Some others showed him Rhoton, on his blanket, as the man he was looking for. 
Looking at him, as he lay with his eyes shut, the soldier exclaimed, that *' Lieut. 
Locks was like some of his officers, pretty essentially drunk." Rhoton, hearing 
this, opened his eyes, and seeing that he was the one referred to as Locks, sprang up 
and made at the regular, who then called on his legs to do their duty ; — and they 
done it well, for he was gone quickly ; neither did he ever return to get Ijieut. Locks' 
clothing. — A day never passed, but that Locks was called upon. — He was accused of 
all mischief, and often condemned and cursed most bitterly by those in search of him. 



SOLDIERS IN THE REGULAR ARMY. 433 

evening, when they take their station on the circular stone 
elevation around the flag staff, the square is crowded for an 
hour by the Mexicans, both male and female, to hear the in- 
spiring strains. From such continual practice, they become 
very expert, and the people seem to forget, even, that they 
are part of a hostile force that have taken possession of their 
beautiful city. 

Whatever position these regulars fill in the service, they do 
it in a first rate manner, devoting all their time to that one 
thing. — They march well, drill well, and fight well ; — though, 
in the fighting part, the volunteers who were in the field 
had shown themselves to be, what was not expected, fully 
equal to them ; and, in some of the regiments, equal in drill 
and parade ; — though a volunteer, here, in every little matter 
of ceremony, will not be bound down, as a regular is obliged 
to be.* 

It was cold comfort in town this day, for there were no 
fires ; they never using them, save for cooking ; and we 
returned to camp, and wrapped in our blankets, lay down in 
our tents to read, or sleep ; which last as usual came very 
quickly to us, whenever stretched out. We were not dis- 
turbed until the drums, fifes, and bugles called us to the three 
o'clock parade, which (thanks to the norther), was but a 

* A regular soldier, who follows it for a livelihood, in peace and war, in garrison 
and in camp, has need for only so much brains as will enable him to stand erect, 
keep his clothing and tent clean and neat, and his arms bright ; to enable him to go 
through the common evolutions, and to understand the common words of command, 
without explanation ; to handle the musket, sword and pistol quickly ; and just language 
enough to ask for his allowance of eatables and whatever else he may need to satisfy 
his appetite, and to be able, when out of hearing of his ofiicers, to swear freely. — If 
he has any more brains or language than is sufficient to answer these purposes, they 
are of no value to him ; for he never will be permitted to use them. 

What induces men of intelligence to enlist in this life for five years, and then enlist 
again for as many more, we cannot tell, without it is that they get plenty to eat and 
drink, and comfortable clothes to wear, without tiiought or care to themselves ; — the 
labor of thinking, they are never obliged to do. Money they cannot make, their wages 
being so small, — a private of infantry, seven dollars per month ; dragoons, eight ; — no 
hope of promotion above the rank of a sergeant can they have, for graduates of West 
Point, cadets, step in above as lieutenants, and fill all higher grades. No matter what 
bravery, what qualities of a soldier may be exhibited in a private, still he is to be kept 
under, in subjection to the youngest cadet, to iifhom he dare not speak, without he haa 
business, and he never can cope with him in rank. 
28 



434 ARRIVAL OF GENERAL SCOTT. 

name to-day ; for hardly were the regiments paraded on the 
plain, when all were dismissed again ; and soon our horses 
were unsaddled and fed, and we again in the tents, out of 
the blasts, which drove the angry waves, of the heretofore 
peaceful river, in a continual dashing roar, on the shore near 
us, and at one time threatened to make us vamos for a more 
elevated situation. 

Thuisday, Fchrvxiry 18th. Times had gone on for the last 
week as before ; all were getting impatient to move, — to go 
ahead. It had been for several days, the only inquiry in the 
camp, when will Gen. Scott arrive ? where shall we next 
go ? Every one seemed anxious to be off. (Some, the most 
impatient, the author remembers, seemed hurried on by their 
destiny, as the movement for which they were so anxious, 
Avas the last ; — they found their graves at Vera Cruz and 
Cerro Gordo). Last night the whole army was elated, by 
the intelligence that Gen. Scott was at the mouth of the 
river ; and this morning they were gratified by seeing him 
come up on the steamer. The camp of our brigade, being 
the first at which he would arrive, each of the regiments 
were drawn out on the river's bank, and, as the steamer 
passed, fired a salute ; as he arrived at the town, the artil- 
lery thundered out a louder welcome. 

As there was no secret in our future movements, we soon 
learned all that was doing. We found that Gen. Worth had 
been detached from Gen. Taylor, and, with his division of 
regulars, was embarking, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, 
for Vera Cruz ; and we learned that the nine new regiments 
from home, which we had heard were ordered out by the 
president, had arrived on the coast ; but the ships on which 
they came were lying at Lobos Island, some forty or fifty 
miles down the coast, waiting for the whole army to be 
collected, for a grand descent upon Vera Cruz and the castle 
of San Juan de Ulloa. Every arrangement made by Gen. 
Scott towards this great end, was now drawing near to 
completion. 

Saturday, February 20th. There being many vessels here, 
not in the employ of the^government, yesterday, all such 
were chartered to assist in the transportation of the array. 



VOTE OF MOUNTED REGIMENT. 435 

And this done, Gen. Scott issued orders to all the other gen- 
erals and colonels, to prepare their troops for an immediate 
embarkation. Gen. Twiggs' division of regulars, first; sec- 
ond, Gen. Pillow^'s Tennessee brigade ; third, Gen. Quitman's 
brigade; fourth, Gen. Shields' brigade; then the artillery. — 
Ever}' movement now, in camp, was made with the greatest 
activity. — A large fleet of ships appeared off the bar, to take 
the troops. No sooner was the order issued, than Gen. 
Twiggs' division struck their tents, and marched through 
town, across the plain in front of us, and passed to the mouth 
of the river, where they encamped for the night, ready to go 
on board the four large ships, that lay there to receive them, 
on the next day. 

Sunday, February 28th. Gen. Twiggs' division having all 
been embarked, and put to sea for Anton Lizardo (an anchor- 
age near Vera Cruz), going by the way of Lobos Island, — 
and Gen. Scott also, having gone, — Gen. Pillow's brigade, to 
which we belonged, was in turn next ; but a violent norther 
came on, and the ships were obliged to put to sea, for safety ; 
and thus, the embarkation was interrupted. Some of them 
having arrived this day, the other two Tennessee regiments 
struck their tents, and were, by the steamboats, taken down 
to the ships. Our regiment were compelled to remain, 
none of the horse transport vessels having arrived. We dis- 
liked this very much ; but it had been foreseen ; and a day 
or two previous to this. Gen. Pillow had addressed our regi- 
ment, and told us, that there was a scarcity of vessels, and , 
gave us our choice, if vessels to convey our horses did not 
arrive, whether we would remain wdth them at Tampico, 
until such vessels should come, or whether we would leave 
our horses, to be brought on as soon as possible, and go on 
ourselves, and serve in the siege of Vera Cruz, on foot. He 
told us, that every man might vote for himself; that if a 
man did not like to leave his horse, he might remain ; and 
that those w^ho were willing to serve on foot, should go ; that 
those who wished to go upon those conditions, would march 
to the left, and those to stay, to the right. — At the word 
march, the whole regiment, in a body, turned their horses to 
the left — thus voting to go, and serve on foot — save one 



436 ANTICIPATED DEPARTURE. 

man. — Gen. Quitman's brigade came in to embark next ; Gen. 
Shields' to follow. — Reader, while waiting for our own turn, 
let us attend, in the next chapter, to the operations of the other 
divisions of the army, during January and February, 1847. 

3Iarnage Ceremonies i>i Mexico. — There is no country where marriage ceremonies are more 
imposing and obhgalory, and yet where those obligations are generally so little binding, as ia 
Mexico.^We will speak ol' the marriage of the higher class, which covers all llie less ex- 
pensive and showy mode of the lower. — The law requires the man to be twenty-one years of 
age, the lady eighteen, — and both members of the Catholic church. — AVhen a young man sees 
a senorita with whom he '• lulls in love,'' it is unnecessary for him to say anything to lier about 
it ; for the parents of the lady have the whole matter to dispose of, and do not much consult her 
feelings. — The young man goes to their house, and, without any preliminary, solicits their 
daughter in marriage. The matter is immediately considered; his wealth, standing, &c., 
■weighed ; and if he have these qualifications in sufficient degree, the bargain is at once con- 
cluded. The lover — now called el noi-io — proceeds to the priest, the curate of the parochia, 
and makes known his intentions. — The curate goes to the house of the maiden, and informs 
her that she is applied for, and by whom. — She may or may not have previously heard of it. — 
He requires her certificate of baptism. This has been committed to her years before by her 
parents, and has been carefully kept; for without' it, she has learned w^hen a child, that site 
never could marry. — She immediately produces this, and the curate, by perusal, learns Iter 
jiame and age. — She is now called la novia. — The curate returns to the parochia — sends for 
the young man, the novio — shows him the baptismal certificate of the novia; then demands 
his own, which is produced. — All, so far, is right. — But if he has been born elsewhere, the 
curate demands of him the certificate of the priest of that place, that he is a saltero — (a single 
man). I'his may be hard to gel, on account of distance, &e. ; and then the diificulty is obviated 
by obtaining a dispetisa from the bishop, which costs as high as that functionary thinks the novia 
is able to pay. — That certificate obtained, or thus avoided, the novio and novia are inlorraed 
that all is right, and that the ceremony of marriage will be performed in the parochia, after 
publishing the same there for three consecutive Sundays ; (this publication may be avoided 
by the novio buying of the bishop another dispensa for the purpose). — Two other young per- 
sons are now-needed, (the same as are familiarly called, in our western country, the waiters) ; 
— these are the young man — compadre — attendant on the bridegroom; and young lady — cema- 
dre, — the bridesmaid. — All is ready. — The party, attended by t'riends and relatives, go to the 
parochia. The novio and novia confess their sins to the priest, receive absolution, and partake 
of the holy sacrament; and then must immediately be married, before they sin again. The 
novio and novia, the attending eompadre and comadre, advance to the altar, and kneel upon the 
step. The priest comes out, preceded by four church boys in their robes. One bears a lofty 
cross, called eruz alto; another swings the censer of holy burning incense, the smoke of 
\vhich diffuses itself around; the other two each bear a rich double candlestick, with two 
lighted candles. — The parties rise to their feet. The ceremony is precisely like that of the 
Episcopal church; the ring is always used. This ceremony through, they leave for their 
home ; but, at three o'clock the next morning, re-appear at; the church — the married lady 
dressed in black. Her husband kneels by her, and over them both is thrown a black mantlet 
called a manquerno (yoke) ; the attending compadre and comadre also kneel, and both hold up 
lighted candles, while mass is said. — This )io\y funcion not only binds the marriage ceremony 
upon the rjorio and noi-ia, but. together with that, throws the waiters — the compadre and co^na- 
dre — into a state of relationship with one another, not so near as brother and sister, but nearer 
llian cousins ; so that they can never after marry each other, without an especial dispensa. — 
This relationship is always at'^erward claimed. — The parties, after mass, rise ; the compadre 
hands to the bride twelve pieces of silver or gold : these she gives to the priest as a don (gift); 
each one represents an apostle. Beside this, the regular fees are sixteen dollars and a half; 
and in addition to this is a compensation for the cruz alto (high cross), of from twenty to one 
hundred dollars, or more, according to the wealth of the parties ; and still, added to the ex- 
pense, is a quantity of small coins, to be thrown by the compadre among the crowd of peones, 
.&c., at the door-way. — For the poor people, the cruz bajo or low cross is used ; many of the 
higher ceremonies dispensed with ; and the priest receives but the regular fees — S16f . — All 
^married couples must attend mass, and be covered with the manquerno three several times 



CHAPTER XI. 

In this month of February there had been much fighting- 
in Mexico, with the other divisions of the army : there had 
been but little in January. Some fighting had taken place 
in the conquered province of California, during the month 
of January, as well as in the preceding month — December ; 
for, when Gen. Kearney arrived there, from Santa Fe, with 
his hundred dragoons and two pieces of artillery, instead 
of finding it tranquil, as he expected, to his surprise he found 
that the enemy, under Gen. Flores, had risen and retaken 
the country, save two or three seaport towns ; and the first 
reception that the gallant general, with his little band, met, 
was an attack from a much superior Mexican force, on 
December 6th, near San Pascual. In the severe contest that 
ensued, he came off victorious, with a loss of twenty killed, 
and fifteen wounded; and, on the 12th December, he entered 
the town of San Diego, then in the possession of the naval 
forces. Com. Stockton adding five hundred marines to his 
force, he, in a short time after this, marched against Pueblo 
de los Angeles, where was the main force of the Mexican 
insurgents. These he defeated in two engagements — one on 
the 8th, and the other on the 9th of January ; and thus re- 
gained the whole country. — He assumed the chief command 
of the conquered province on March 1st, and its tranquillity 
was no more disturbed.*^ 

Beside this insurrection in California, one had broken out 
in another quarter, New Mexico. After Gen. Kearney had 
left for California, and Col. Cooke's battalion and Col. Doni- 
phan had gone to the southward. Col. Price was the military 

* Gen. Kearney was succeeded in command of California, on the 1st of June, 1847, 
by Col. Mason, first dragoons, United States' army. 

C'f37) 



438 BATTLE OF CANADA. 

commander of the province. He had under his command 
near two thousand men, consisting of his own regiment of 
cavah-y, also one battahon of four companies of mounted 
men, under Lieut. -col. Willock, and two companies of infan- 
try, under Lieut. -col. Angney, one company (Fischer's) artil- 
lery, (all of which troops were from Missouri), and three com- 
panies, regular dragoons, under Capt. Burgwin. — This force, 
mostly mounted, was scattered in diflerent situations, through- 
out those parts of the province where grazing for their horses 
could be found. 

An insurrection was planned by Senores Ortiz, Charvez, 
and Gen. Archulette, against the Americans. — This plan, 
which was to make a general rise at midnight, on December 
19th, — afterwards postponed to Christmas eve, the 24th, — 
was discovered on the 21st, and prompt measures adopted 
for its prevention. — The leaders, however, escaped, and plan- 
ned another, which was executed on the night of January 
19th ; but, on account of the watchfulness of the difierent 
detachments, although the rising, save in the city, was uni- 
versal, was but partly successful. — Gov. Bent and several of 
his officers, being in the valley of Taos, at the town of San 
Fernando, to the north of Santa Fe, fell victims to it, being 
brutally massacred. — Twenty others, also, in the different 
detachments, were killed in the separate attacks. The Mex- 
ican population immediately flew to arms, for, as yet, they 
had not tried their strength with "los Americanos," having, 
at first, quietly surrendered. 

On the 23d, Col. Price, at the head of four hundred men, 
and four pieces of artillery, marched against the body of the 
insurgents, who, with a force of fifteen hundred, had posted 
themselves on the strong heights, at the village of Canada. 
On the 24th, a spirited action, of an hour and a half, began 
by cannonade, and ended by a charge, which sent the routed 
foe in every direction over the hills, with the loss of thirty- 
six killed, and some two or three hundred wounded.* 

BEPORT OF KILLED ASFB WOUNDED AT CANADA, JAMAHT 24tH, 1847. 

* Infantry battalion, commanded by Capt. W. Z. Angney. — Killed — Private 
Graham; wagoner G. M. Smith, (volunteered to fight). Woitnd£d — Private John 
Pace, shghtly ; 1st lieutenant Irwin, severely, through the leg. 



BATTLE OF EL EMBODA. 439 

The insurgents fell back farther to the north, up the river, 
to the pass of Emboda, and took a very strong position. — 
Captain Burgwin now had joined Col. Price, with two com- 
panies of dragoons and another field piece, and the augmen- 
ted force marched against the enemy, and a detachment un- 
der Capt. Burgwin charged upon them, in a narrow gorge, 
and completely routed them, with the loss of twenty killed 
and sixty wounded.* 

The insurgents fell back still farther to the north, and pre- 
pared to make a desperate stand at San Fernando de Taos, 
where Governor Bent and others had fallen victims to the 
massacre. The enemy were not allowed much interval in 
fighting, for, although the snow lay deep on the mountains 
to be crossed, the victorious force toiled over them on the 
1st and 2d of February, on the 3d entered San Fernando, 
and immediately marched against the neighboring Indian 
town, El Pueblo, where the insurgents were posted in a strong 
church, and two other buildings like p^^ramids, the walls of 
which were almost impenetrable to cannon shot. — The battle 
commenced that afternoon, ceased at night, and was renewed 
on the 4th ; and the enemy, after a severe engagement, were 
wholly defeated and subdued, with a loss, on this day, of 
one hundred and fifty-two killed, and between three and four 
hundred wounded ; — American loss, fifty-four killed and 
wounded, among the latter, mortally, was the gallant Capt. 
Burgwin .f — One of the under leaders of the rebellion, Mor- 
tayo, was taken here, and, in a day or two, hung at San 
Fernando. 

Lieut. Dyer's battalion, artillery. — Wounded — Sergeant Gaspers, slightly ; pri- 
vates Aulman, severely, in the ankle ; Murphy, severely, in the knee ; Meagre, se- 
verely, in the arm. 

* KILLED AND WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE OF EL EMDODA, UNDER CAPTAIN BUR- 
GWIN, JANUARY 29th, 1847. 

Killed — Private Papin, of St. Vrain's company of Santa Fe volunteers.— 

"Wounded — Dick, Gov. Bent's servant, severely, 

■{•KILLED AND WOUNDED AT PUEULO DE TAOS ON THE 4tH FEBRUARY, 1847, 2d 
REGIMENT MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS, AND U. S. DRAGOONS. 

Company D, Capt. S. H. McMilkn. — Woundtd — Capt. McMillan, slightly, in 
the head ; privates R. C. Bower, severely ; Henry Fender and George W. Thomp- 
son, dangerously ; Robert Hevyett, George W. Howser, and Wm. Ducoing, slightly. 

Company K, Lieut. White. — Wounded — Capt. James W. Jones, severely; ser- 



440 BATTLES OF PUEBLO DE TAOS AND BAGAS. 

At the same time that these events were going on, to the 
north of Santa Fe, Capt. Hendley was to the east, at Ba- 
gas, with two hundred and fifty men. With eighty-five, he 
attacked the village of Mora, where three hundred of the 
insurgents had posted themselves. He defeated and dis- 
persed these, killing twenty-five, wounding fifty, and taking 
seventeen prisoners ; but lost his own life, falling on the field. 
— Thus, in a short space of time, by these energetic and de- 
cisive movements, did Col. Price and his officers quell the se- 
rious rebellion ; and the province of New Mexico was again 
quiet, in the hands of the American forces. 

While these battles had been fought with the insurgents 
in New Mexico and California, others, between larger forces 
took place, farther south. One of these had been fought by 
Col. Doniphan, with the first Missouri regiment, and its aux- 
iliaries of the second, at Sacramento, near Chihuahua ; and 
we will now follow up the movements of this gallant body 
of men, from the time at which we left them, at the close of 
the year 184G. Then, they had, after the battle of Brazito, 
taken possession of the town of El Paso, on the Rio del 
Norte. Col. Doniphan was now placed in a very difficult 
situation. Pie had been ordered to report to Gen. Wool, at 
Chihuahua ; but that officer had, on account of the difficul- 

geant Alfred L. Caldwell, mortally, (since dead) ; private James Austin, mortally, 
(since dead). 

Company L, Caj)t. Wm. Y. Slack. — Wounded — Second Lieut. John Mansfield, 
slightly ; privates Jacob Moon, severely ; Wm. Gillem, slightly. 

Battalion of artillery, Lieut. Dyer, U. S. ordnance. — Wounded — Privates Berlfed 
and Jod, severely ; Kohne, slightly, and some others slightly, not reported. 

Battalion of infantry, commanded by Capt. W. Z. Angncy. — Killed — Sergeant 
Hart. IVownrfef?— Lieut. Vanvolkenburgh, (since dead) ; Sergeants Ferguson and 
Aull, severely. 

Company G, U. S. dragoons, commanded by Capt. Burgwin. — Killed — Sergeant 
G. B. Ross ; privates Brooks, Beebe, Levrey and Hansucker. Severely wounded — 
Captain Burgwin, (since dead) ; sergeant J. Vanroe, twice ; corporals Engleman and 
J. Linneman ; privates S. Blodget, S. W. Crain, R. Deits, G. F. Sickcnburgh, J. 
Truax, (dead), Hagenbaugh and Anderson. Slightly ivounded — Beach, Hutton, 
Hillerman, Walker 1st, Schneider, (dead), Shay, and Near, 

Company I, Ist dragoons. — Wounded — Bremen, slightly. 

Company M, Capt. W. C. Holley. — Wounded — Samuel Lewis, slightly. 

Company N, Captain Thomas Barbee. — Wounded — First Lieut. T. G. West,, 
slightly ; privates J. H. Calaway, Jolin Nash, and John G. Lights, all slightly. 



INTERCEPTED LETTERS. 441 

ties of the route, abandoned that purpose, moved to the 
south, and joined his forces to those of Gen. Taylor. This 
was, for some time after their arrival here, unknown to the 
Missourians ; who now, at this little town on the Rio Grande, 
were shut out from all knowledge of home, or of any opera- 
tions of the war, save those that they themselves had car- 
ried on. They were now placed in the heart of an enemy's 
country, with the general, to whom they were ordered to 
report, far in the south — near a thousand miles, by the wind- 
ing mountain roads ; and between them were large tracts of 
desert country ; then again, large sections thickly populated, 
all hostile, and unsubdued ; and not only many small towns 
on the way, but the city of Chihuahua had to be taken— a 
strongly fortified place of twenty thousand inhabitants; and 
all this would, if the march was undertaken, have to be done 
by a small force, little over one regiment, cut off entirely from 
all succor. 

For many days, with the gallant commander and his brave 
men, all Vv^as uncertainty and doubt. Contradictory rumors 
from the enemy followed the previous report. — The utmost 
vigilance could not prevent the departure from town of per- 
sons for Chihuahua, who carried to the enemy there a full 
account of the state and strength of this regiment. — Capt. 
Reid's company having been out on a little scout, a few 
miles down the river, on returning, met three Mexicans, well 
armed, who had succeeded in leaving town ; he apprehended 
and searched them, and found upon them, letters from one 
of the principal priests of El Paso, giving information of the 
condition of their force, their probable intention to march to 
the south ; and also making the most extravagant and false 
assertions, of their cruelty and barbarism towards the inhab- 
itants of El Paso. The men were immediately taken back 
to the town, and the priest arrested; together with another, 
whose letters were found of the same kind, and both were 
placed in confinement. — In the mean time the Mexicans at 
Chihuahua having ascertained the strength of Doniphan's 
command, and knowing also that there were no reinforce- 
ments for him behind, and also knowing that Gen. Wool 
had abandoned the idea of marching from the southward 



442 COL. DONIPHAN'S REGIMENT. 

against them ; and having, at the city, a force of four thous- 
and five hundred n:ien, and thirteen pieces of artillery, wished 
much to draw Doniphan into the march against them, confi- 
dent of annihilating his force ; and to this end, published in 
the Chihualiua papers, that Gen. Wool was on the route, 
Avith a heavy force, and within a few days' march of the city, 
and contrived that this report should be circulated at El Paso, 
followed by another, in a few days, that the city was taken 
by him. These reports came to El Paso, but shortly they 
were contradicted, by an American, who had escaped from 
Chihuahua; who informed Col. Doniphan, that Gen. Wool 
was not there, and that, moreover, from all they could learn, 
that he was not coming ; that the most current report in Chi- 
huahua, was, that Gen, Santa Anna was marching against 
him and Gen. Taylor, with twenty thousand men. This 
information gave to all a desire to go onward. A council 
of officers was held, and although it was universally pro- 
nounced hazardous in the extreme, yet all were in favor of 
going. — More than the loose report, before mentioned, they 
knew not ; had not heard where the generals were, but only 
knew that they were to the southward ; had just learned 
through Mexicans, of the battle of Monterey ; but knew not of 
the capture of Saltillo, and the country on the Rio Grande, 
although these events had taken place months before ; in 
fact, only knew that the war continued to exist, by the con- 
tinued belligerent attitude of the Mexicans around. 

This regiment having made a campaign against the In- 
dians, having already passed through the greatest hardships, 
and traveled two thousand miles, nearly all of which was un- 
known to the public at home ; and being still far out, alone, 
surrounded by vast mountains, and tracts of wilderness, cloth- 
ed in skins, like savages ; without any of the scant conveni- 
ences even of soldiers, were still willing and eager to ad- 
vance through unknown districts, a distance they knew not 
how far, except that it could not be less than a thousand 
miles, in which they were sure of meeting a formidable ene- 
my, four times as strong as their own force, that they knew 
had been mustered for the purpose of meeting that of Gen. 
Wool ; and beside that, they knew that the strength of 



MARCH FOR CHIHUAHUA. 443 

the city of Chihuahua was ready to oppose their progress, 
beside many other inferior towns. In the face of all this 
formidable array, they were willing and anxious to go. 

But the officers of this command, though, as said, willing 
and anxious to go, yet decided not on it; determining to 
leave it to the men, who must endure the toil and pain to- 
gether with themselves, of this arduous undertaking, if de- 
termined upon. 

It might be thought that the movement was the only one 
the regiment in their advanced situation could make, to ex- 
tricate themselves. Bat this was not so. — Col. Doniphan 
had received orders to report himself to Gen. Wool at Chihua- 
hua ; but he had now found that that general was not there, 
nor had he been within six hundred miles of that place. — 
His orders, therefore, were at an end ; and as a commander 
of a separate division of the army, and more especially, as 
placed beyond the reach of orders, his control of his force, 
and powers of using his discretion, were equal to those of a 
general. The road back to Santa Fe was open ; — he could 
fall back with honor to himself and command. 

The regiment, with its auxiliaries, having now, in addition 
to Lieut.-col. Mitchell's escort of ninety-three men, been 
joined by Capt. Weightman's company of artillery, of six 
pieces, and one hundred and seventeen officers and men, un- 
«der the command of Major Clark, from Santa Fe, where they 
had been sent for, after the battle of El Paso ; — numbered 
now, in all, nine hundred and twenty-four men. They were 
drawn up, under arms, in the plaza of El Paso, and the de- 
liberation of the council of officers was made known to them. 
They were reminded of their already arduous campaign ; of 
the contemplated route, and its length, and the renewed pri- 
vations and hardships to which they would be exposed ; — of 
their battle already fought ; of the certainty of one with a 
much larger force, if the advance was made ; of the strongly 
fortified city of Chihuahua ; and, on the other hand, that the 
route to return was open ; and then told that the decision was, 
by the officers, left to them. 

A few moment's pause was made, and the order given for 
every one who was willing to go, to step to the front. In an 



444 THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER. 

instant, with a quick, free step, the whole moved out ; — to go 
was the unanimous, unhesitating resokition. — The conduct 
of this detachment, under these circumstances, needs no com- 
ment. 

After the march was thus decided on, nothing remained to 
do, save to get ready for it, which was done in a day or two; 
and, on the 8th day of February, after having remained in 
El Paso forty days, the troops and artillery, accompanied 
by their trains, (and three hundred and fifteen wagons of 
traders, who had thus far come with them from Santa Fe, 
arriving at El Paso from time to time, during the stay of the 
regiment there, and who now proceeded on towards Chihua- 
hua. — Many of these wagons had been under the protection 
of the troops from Missouri, halting in Santa Fe while the 
troops were on the Indian expedition, and afterwards coming 
down the Rio Grande), — crossed the river, and pursued the 
march to the southward, traveling along the river forty miles, , 
over a sandy road, when they entered a Jornada, as the Mex- 
ican term is for a long extent of country destitute of water. 
— This was mostly through a winding valley among the 
mountains ; — there was plenty of grass, but no Avater for its 
whole extent, over seventy miles. This was accomplished 
in three days and nights ; — the suffering the last day was in- 
tense among men and animals ; many of the latter died. — 
The road through this was good. 

At the evening of the third day, they arrived at ponds of 
water ; next day encamped at noon, at a good spring on the 
road , — a warm, clear spring was on a hill near, and still 
another very large one was about two miles from camp, — 
plenty of fine grass around. That night they marched thir- 
ty-seven miles, through the next Jornada, and encamped in 
the morning on a lake of good water. 

A large number of Apache Indians, foes to the Mexicans, 
inhabit the mountains around here. — The scouts, continu- 
ally kept out, met with some of these ; but the Indians were 
friendly, and gave them some important information with 
regard to the Mexican force ahead. — 'IhS.B Jornada now being 
passed, the troops and train got on better. 

The distance from El Paso to Chihuahua is above three 



ANTICIPATED BATTLE. 445 

'hundred miles. Continuing the march until the evening of 
February 25th, at about fifty miles distance from Chihuahua, 
the force halted at a fine spring ; and the interpreter, Kirker, 
a man well acquainted in the country, with his party of 
twelve men, who had been employed all the route from El 
Paso as scouts, and had been ahead to reconnoitre, returned, 
and reported that a force of about fifteen hundred men were 
drawn up at Encinillas, the country seat of Don Angel Trias, 
at that time governor of the state of Chihuahua. This seat 
was about twenty-five miles ahead. These troops appeared to 
the scouts, as though prepared to make a defence ; for, as 
said before, they were perfectly aware of the strength and 
condition of the American force, and had received, from time 
to time, accurate information of its advance; not liking to try 
the prowess of" los Americanos," by themselves, the Mexicans 
retreated the next morning ; and on the evening of the 26th 
the troops came up to the houses, but there was no enemy. 
— The next day, the 27th, the force came within thirty miles 
of the city, to Sanz. The scouts coming in, had reported the 
enemy in great numbers, strongly intrenched on a hill in the 
valley ahead. — Now every one prepared himself for the bat- 
tle on the morrow ; for, from this encampment, that of the 
enemy had to be reached next, as there was no water be- 
tween. — On the morning of the next day, February 28th, 
the command were early roused, and their breakfasts dis- 
posed of, lines formed, and all on the move by sunrise. The 
long train of three hundred and fifteen traders' wagons, 
beside some sixty, belonging to the detachment, were brought 
up in four parallel columns, so as to be more easily de- 
fended ; they could well travel that way, for the road lay 
down a pretty valley, unbroken, and they could occupy a 
wide space ; high and naked mountains were on either side. 
— As the force to be met was so far superior in number, the 
dispositions of the march were made with the utmost care. 
Two hundred of the men rode in front of these columns of 
wagons ; the remainder, with the artillery, were stationed 
between these columns, which hid them from the view of the 
enemy. In this broad, compact, and regular body of wagons 
on the outside, horsemen in the front and rear, horsemen and 



446 FORT SACRAMENTO. 

artillery within the spaces of the columns, the whole a sort 
of moving fortification, fully sufficient to protect the small 
body of men from the charge of the enemy's cavalry, the 
whole moved down the valley ; w4iich spread out, open, 
liearly level, with no trees or brush to obstruct the view. — A 
party, commanded by Major Clark, of the artillery, was sent 
forward to reconnoitre ; when within three miles, the ene- 
my's camp was plainly in view. As the solid, extended 
body of the Americans, of the four parallel columns of 
wagons, and force between, and ahead, and in the rear, 
slowly and steadily advanced, the enemy prepared to receive 
them. 

Across the valley, which so far had been level, rose in front, 
a crescent-shaped hill; with the hollow side to the north, and 
flat on the top, with the eastern part, or to the left, as the 
force came from the north, higher than any other. This hill 
was about sixty feet in elevation above the surrounding 
plain : and one point of it was close to the mountains, on 
the left, and the other point came round by the mountains on 
the right, about a mile further up the valley than the left ex- 
tremity, but as said before, it was not so high. — The road 
upon which the Americans were passing, proceeded directly 
down the valley to the foot of the hill in front, crossing there 
a little stream that runs around the hill to the east ; it here 
divided, one fork of it rising the hill, passing directly over 
its centre, and down on the other side to another stream, 
which it crossed, and then passed directly on towards Chi- 
huahua. At this last stream was a fort, called Sacramento. 
The other fork of the road wound to the left, round the base 
of the hill, following down the bed of the little stream, and 
joining the first on the other side of the eminence; but this 
road had been rendered impassable, by strong barricades 
across the bed of the creek, and by the guns of the forts 
above it, on either hand. This was so completely arranged 
for defence, in order to force the Americans, as they advanc- 
ed, to take the direct road over the hill ; upon the top of 
which, on a wide area, they had constructed their main forti- 
fications, bearing upon and commanding the road; though to 
these were added a succession of others, above all; for over 



MEXICAN FORTIFICATIONS. 447 

this creek, as said before, was a mountain; on an eminence 
of this, called Cerio Frijoles, was a strong fort, the fire of 
which bore down on the road in front, and completely com- 
manded and rendered impracticable, the passage along the 
bed of the creek. This fort was the enemy's right, and was 
protected by the inaccessible mountain in its rear. On the 
west, or opposite from this, the long part of the crescent 
hill came farther up the valley ; between this and the moun- 
tain on that side, called Cerro Sacramento, was the second, 
or larger stream mentioned. This was called the Rio Sacra- 
mento, and flowed along down between the mountain and 
the western horn of the hill, and then turned round the base 
of that hill, and crossed the valley, running to the eastward. 
On this mountain of Sacramento, over the river, a large fort, 
formed the enemy's left ; this fort was elevated, sweeping 
the whole hill below, and, like the other, it could not be ta- 
ken in rear. 

As the road over the hill was the only one now that the 
Americans could pass, the enemy had built two forts, one on 
each brow of this, and twenty-seven redoubts, at little dis- 
tance from each other, in a parallel line to the road as it 
crossed the hill, where their whole force could be under cover. 
— Their cavalry was drawn up before the redoubts, and faced 
the road. 

Here, then, on this strong position, on the hill and entirely 
across the valley^from mountain to mountain, with strong 
forts on either extremity, forts and redoubts all along these, 
the enemy was drawn up, consisting of twelve hundred 
cavalry, from Durango, Chihuahua, and Vera Cruz ; twelve 
hundred infantry, from Chihuahua, and three hundred artil- 
lery, with ten pieces of brass cannon and three carriages, 
each mounting three culverins, (a small long gun). This 
force of twenty-seven hundred men was well armed, the 
cavalry with lances, escopetas, and sabres, the infantry with 
muskets and bayonets, and the artillery with the same and 
swords. — Besides this array, there were fourteen hundred and 
twenty irregular troops, armed with indifferent guns, lassos, 
lances, and long cane knives. — These were protected by the 
regulars and redoubts : — in all, a force of four thousand one 



448 BATTLE OF CERRO SACRAMENTO. 

hundred and twenty men. These were under the command 
of Gen. Jose A. Heredia, assisted by Gen. Garcia Conde, 
who had planned the intrenchments, and who commanded 
the cavah-y ; Gov. Trias, and colonels and other officers in 
proportion to the force. 

Against this formidable array on the heights, were in the 
plain below a little force of nine hundred and twenty-four 
men, with six pieces of artillery, and encumbered with a 
heavy wagon train. But every man of this force was a 
host in himself; — cut ofi' from all resource or retreat, with a 
cruel and notoriously perfidious enemy before them, the al- 
ternative was literally victory or death. 

This force advanced in full view of the enemy, until within 
fifteen hundred yards of them, when, pushing the two com- 
panies of the advance ahead, the column of wagons and 
troops turned from the road to the right, and soon making a 
passage over the first stream, called the Arroyo Seco, the 
battle commenced about three, P. M. 

The following graphic account in relation to it is extract- 
ed from the report of Major Clark, commanding battalion of 
artillery, to Col. Doniphan : 

" Further I have the honor to report that the battalion of 
artillery under my command, composed of one hundred and 
ten men and seven officers, with a battery of six pieces of 
artillery, were, on the morning of the battle, directed to form 
under the direction of Capt. Weightmall, between the two 
columns of merchant and provision wagons, being thus 
masked from the view of the enemy. In this column my 
troops continued the march to within about fifteen hundred 
yards of the enemy's most advanced position ; our direction 
was then changed to the right, and the column having cross- 
ed the Arroyo Seco, within reach of the enemy's fire, rapidly 
advanced towards the table land between the Seco and Sac- 
ramento. At this time the enemy was perceived advancing 
from his intrenchments, to prevent our seizing upon those 
heights ; but, by a rapid movement of the battery, it was 
quickly draw'n from its mask, and seizing upon a favorable 
position, protected in the rear, b)^ a marsh, from the attack 
of a large body of the enemy's cavalry ascertained to be 



•MAJOR CLARK'S ARTILLERY. 449 

hanging on our rear, it was formed, and at once opened fire 
upon the enemy's cavalry, rapidly advancing upon us. At 
this moment, his charging column was about nine hundred 
yards distant, and the effect of our strap-shot and shells was 
such as to break his ranks and throw his cavalry into confu- 
sion. The enemy now rapidly deployed into line, bringing 
up his artillery from the intrenchments. During this time 
the line was preparing for a charge, my artillery advancing 
by hand and firing. The enemy now opened a heavy fire of 
cannon upon our line, mainly directed upon the battery, but 
with little effect. 

" Lieut. Dorn had his horse shot from under him by a nine- 
pound ball at this stage of the action, and several mules and 
oxen, in the merchant wagons in our rear, were wounded 
and killed, which, however, was the only damage done. The 
fire of our cannon at this time had such good effect as to dis- 
mount one of the enemy's pieces, and completely to disperse 
his cavalry and drive him from his position, forcing him 
again to retire behind his intrenchments. For a short time, 
the firing on either side now ceased, and the enemy appeared 
to be moving his cannon and wounded, whilst our line pre- 
pared to change our position more towards the right, for the 
purpose of occupying a more advantageous ground. Our 
object being soon gained, the order to advance was given, 
and immediately after I was directed to send the section of 
howitzers to support a charge upon the enemy's left. I im- 
mediately ordered Capt. R. F. Weightman to detach the sec- 
tion composed of two twelve-pound mountain howitzers, 
mounted on carriages constructed especially for field prairie 
service, and drawn by two horses each — these were com- 
manded by Lieut. E. F. Chouteau and F. D. Evans, and 
manned by some twenty men, whose conduct in this action 
cannot be too much commended. 

"Capt. Weightman charged at full gallop upon the ene- 
my's left, preceded by Capt. Reid and his company of horse, 
and after crossing a ravine some hundred and fifty yards 
from the enemy, he unlimbered the guns within fifty yards 
of the intrenchments, and opened a destructive fire of 
cannister into his ranks, which was warmly returned, but 
29 



450 DEFEAT OF THE MEXICANS. 

without effect. Capt. Weightman again advanced upon tho 
entrenchment, passing through it in the face of the enemy, 
and within a few feet of the ditches ; and in the midst of a 
cross-fire from three directions, again opened his fire to the 
right and left, with such effect that, with the formidable 
charge of the cavalry and dismounted men of your own regi- 
ment, and Lieut.-col. Mitchell's escort, the enemy were dri- 
ven from the breast-works on our right in great confusion. 

"At this time, under the heavy cross-fire from the battery 
upon Cerro Sacramento, I was advancing with our battery of 
four six-pounders, under lieutenants Dorn, Kribben and La- 
beaume, upon the enemy's right, supported by Maj. Gilpin on 
the left, and the wagon train, escorted by two companies of 
infantry, under Captain E. J. Glasgow and Skillman, in the 
rear, when Maj. Gilpin charged upon the enemy's centre, 
and forced him from his entrenchments, under a heavy fire 
of artillery and small arms ; at the same time, the fiire of 
our battery was opened upon the enemy's extreme right, 
from which a continued fire had been kept up upon our line 
and the wagon train. Two of the enemy's guns were now 
soon dismounted on their right, that battery silenced, and 
the enemy dislodged from the redoubt on Cerro Frijoles. 

" Perceiving a body of lancers forming, for the purpose of 
out-flanking our left and attacking the merchants' wagon 
train under Capt. Glasgow, I again opened upon them a very 
destructive fire of grape and spherical case shot, which soon 
cleared the left of our line ; the enemy vacating his en- 
trenchments and deserting his guns, was hotly pursued to- 
wards the mountains beyond Cerro Frijoles, and down the 
Arroyo Seco to Sacramento, by both wings of the army, un- 
der Lieut.-col. Mitchell, Lieut.-col. Jackson, and Maj. Gilpin, 
and by Capt. Weightman, with the sections of howitzers. — 
During this pursuit, my officers repeatedly opened their fires 
upon the retreating enemy, with great effect. To cover this 
flight of the enemy's forces from the entrenched camp, 
the heaviest of his cannon had been taken from the en- 
trenchments to Cerro Sacramento, and a heavy fire opened 
upon our pursuing forces and the wagons following in the 
rear. To silence this battery, I had the honor to anticipate 



SKILL OF AMERICAN ARTILLERYMEN. 451 

your order to that effect, by at once occupying the nearest 
of the enemy's entrenchments, twelve hundred and twenty- 
five yards distant; and notwithstanding the elevated posi- 
tion of the Mexican battery, giving him a ploughing fire into 
my entrenchments, which was not defilated, and the greater 
range of his long nine-pounders, the fij-st fire of our guns 
dismounted one of his larger pieces, and the fire was kept 
up with such briskness and precision of aim, that this bat- 
tery was soon silenced, and the enemy seen precipitately re- 
treating. The fire was then continued upon the rancho 
Sacramento, and the enemy's ammunition and baggage 
train, retreating upon the road to Chihuahua. — By this fire, 
the house and several wagons were rendered untenable and 
useless. 

" By this time, Lieut.-col. Mitchell had scaled the hill, fol- 
lowed by the section of howitzers under Capt. Weightman, 
and the last position of the Mexican forces taken possession 
of by our troops, thus leaving the American forces master 
of the field. Having silenced the fire from Cerro Sacra- 
mento, our battery was removed into the plain at the ran- 
cho, where we gained the road, and were in pursuit of the 
enemy when I received your order to return and encamp 
within the enemy's entrenchments for the night. 

" From the time of first opening my fire upon the Mexican 
cavalry, to the cessation of the firing upon the rancho and 
battery of Sacramento, was about three hours ; and, during 
the whole time of the action, I take the utmost pleasure in 
stating that every officer and man of my command did his 
duty with cheerfulness, coolness, and precision, which is suf- 
ficiently shown by the admirable effect produced by their 
fire, the great accuracy of their aim, their expedition and 
ingenuity in supplying deficiencies in the field during the ac- 
tion, and the prompt management of the pieces, rendered 
still more remarkable from the fact that I had, during the- 
fight, less than two-thirds the number of cannoneers gener^ 
ally required for the service of light artillery, and but four 
of the twelve artillery carriages belonging to my battery har- 
nessed with horses, the remaining four carriages being hair- 
nessed to mules of the country." 



452 KILLED AND WOUNDED MEXICANS. 

So ended the battle of Sacramento. — The field was strewed 
with the dead and dying. The enemy lost over three hun- 
dred killed, four hundred and odd wounded, seventy prisoners, 
all their artillery, ammunition, baggage wagons and provis- 
ions, some six thousand dollars, and an immense number of 
horses, mules, cattle and sheep in the plain below. It was 
a complete victory and dispersion ; nothing was saved by 
the survivors of the enemy, save the trifle of eight rounds of 
artillery ammunition that was secreted by a servant in the 
mountains.* Of the American force, strange as it may ap- 
pear, exposed so long to a fire of artillery and small arms, 
only one was killed, three mortally wounded, and seven 
others more slightly. 

The victorious army encamped on the battle-ground that 
night ; and, having fought hard, slept well. — Another battle 
was expected at the city, on the following day. On that 
morning, a detachment, under Lieut. -col. Mitchell, commen- 
ced their march; but, as they approached the city, they were 
met by some American citizens, who had been residing there, 
and who, having been for some time in prison, were released 
this morning. They informed Col. Doniphan, that no resist- 
ance would be made in the city ; that all there was conster- 
nation and despair ; — that the most exaggerated accounts of 
the prowess of the Americans had been circulated by the 
routed army, in their flight through, the night previous. — - 
The detachment having marched in without opposition, Col. 
Doniphan, on the next day, followed ; took possession of the 
city in the name of the American government, and occupied 
the buildings around the plaza as the barracks for the troops, 
while he took his residence in the palace of Gov. Trias ; from 
the flag-staff" of which, the American flag waved out over the 
large city of Chihuahua. — Here were found abundance of 
supplies. The sheep and cattle they had taken, furnished 
meat in abundance. Many of these were exchanged with 
the citizens, for fine, large, and fat hogs. Vegetables were 
plentiful. A good flour mill supplied them with that article ; 
and, in everything, the army lived well. A full supply of fine 

* See dispatch of Gen. Heredia, March 2J, 1847. 



COL. DONIPHAN IN CHIHUAHUA. 453 

water was brought by the aqueduct into the city, and flowed 
from the fountains in the squares. 

Having now estabHshed himself in Chihuahua, and having 
heard that generals Taylor and Scott were surrounded by the 
powerful army of Santa Anna, and being anxious, in such a 
case, to assist them, by marching to their relief!,\Col. Doni- 
phan soon sent Collins, one of the interpreters and scouts, 
with an escort of thirteen men, through to Gen. Wool, at 
Saltillo, to report his progress, and obtain orders. This small 
party proceeded through the long route of about seven hun- 
dred miles, without molestation, save at the town of San Se- 
bastian, one hundred and twenty leagues from Chihuahua, 
where they stopped at evening. When about to go, the alcalde 
of the place asked Collins to step into the house again, which 
he did ; and he then demanded of him, in a threatening man- 
ner, if he had a passport to travel through the state. Collins 
— who had been an old trader among these people, spoke 
their language fluently, and understood their customs — told 
him that he had a passport, and led him out to see it. At 
the door, he pointed to his thirteen men, dressed in skins, 
with long beards, that the razor had not touched for months, 
and remarked to the Mexican that those were his passports, 
and told him how many shots they had each ; every one of 
this party having, in addition to his gun, holster pistols, sword, 
and revolving pistols ; — and then, telling the alcalde that it 
would be dangerous work for any Mexicans to interrupt them, 
mounted his horse, and all proceeded. — The next night they 
encamped ; and, while getting their supper, were overtaken 
and surrounded by between one and two hundred Mexi- 
cans, who had collected at San Sebastian, and pursued after 
them. The Mexicans remained at a distance, and not a shot 
was fired. — The party finished their suppers ; and, every 
man leading his horse, walked on, until they gained the base 
of a mountain. — The Mexicans, remembering the field of Sa- 
cramento, fell back from before them ; and the party then 
mounted, and rode all night. — They understood, on their re- 
turn, that this force was waiting for the arrival of a larger 
one coming, before they would attack ; but, when that ar- 
rived, the party was gone.-^-The Mexicans prepared to attack 



454 TREATY OF CHIHUAHUA. 

them on their return, but this was frustrated by their addi- 
tional strength. 

In less than fifteen days they reached Saltillo, and report- 
ed themselves to Gen. Wool. That general was astonished 
beyond measure, when he heard, for the first time, of the bat- 
tles of Brazito and of Sacramento : of fourteen hundred men, 
with a piece of artillery, discomfited by a little over five hun- 
dred, taken unawares ; and of more than four thousand, 
strongly entrenched, with a train of artillery of ten pieces, 
defeated and totally routed, with great loss of men and camp 
equipage, by this same body, then a little more than nine 
hundred strong ; — of the great length of the march they had 
made, through a wilderness of mountain and prairie, without 
supplies of any kind ; and, more than all, to find that this 
force — of which these fourteen hardy, rough looking men, were 
a sample — were in quiet possession of the large and fine city 
of Chihuahua,' for the capture of which, originally, his whole 
command, of nearly three thousand five hundred men, with 
abundance of supplies, had been fitted out ; and the force, 
now at six hundred miles distance, understanding that Tay- 
lor and himself were surrounded, now sent to him, offering 
him assistance ; — the whole appeared more like a fable of 
olden time, than like the reality of modern warfare.— After 
reading the dispatches, he again looked at the men, in their 
rough appearance, and dress of skins, and asked, still half- 
seriously, who they were ? where they came from ? and un- 
der the flag of what nation were they fighting? &c., &c.*7^ 
"We will leave this force in possession of the city of Chihua- 
hua, engaged, about this time, in making a treaty with the 
state authorities ; the result of which was, an agreement on 
the part of those authorities to abstain, hereafter, from all 
participation in the future actions of the war; and to allow 
the entrance of American traders into their state, on pay- 
ment of the customary duties, and to protect them in dispos- 

• To those readers who woulJ wish a more extended notice of all the operations 
of this gallant regiment, as well as of those of Gen. Kearney, in California, and Col. 
Price, in Santa Fe, the author would recommend " Col. Doniphan's Expedition," a 
new and interesting work by J. T. Heches, of the first Missouri regiment, published 
by J. A. & U. P. James, Cincinnati. 



GENERAL SCOTT'S ORDERS. 455 

ing of their goods ; — and, on his part, Col. Doniphan, in con- 
sideration of those agreements, promised to withdraw his 
troops from the city. (It is but justice to the authorities of 
Chihuahua to state, that they have faithfully fulfilled this 
treaty). — We will now turn our attention to the army of Gen. 
Taylor, and its operations during this eventful month of Feb- 
Tuary. 

When Gen. Scott arrived at the Rio Grande, on the first 
of January, as has been before mentioned, he instantly sent 
his dispatches to Gen. Taylor (then on his way to Victoria), 
directing him to return to Monterey, with a small portion of 
the troops he had, and ordered the main body, under Major 
Gen. Patterson, brigadier-generals Twiggs, Pillow, and Quit- 
man, to go on to Tampico. The march of these has been 
described. 

He also sent dispatches to Gen. Worth, at Saltillo, who 
there had just been reinforced by the army of Gen. Wool, to 
leave that post in the command of the latter general, and, 
with his whole division of regulars, to march to the Rio 
Grande, and thence transport his troops to Matamoras, pre- 
paratory to embarking them for Vera Cruz, in conjunction 
with the large force that should embark for the same point, 
from Tampico, and those of the new levy of nine regiments, 
that were arriving from the United States, and collecting at 
Lobos Island, south of Tampico. Dispatches were also sent 
to Gen. Butler, commanding the reserve through the valley 
of the Rio Grande, and whose head-quarters were at Mon- 
terey, informing him of the arrangements. 

These dispatches to each, altered all the arrangements 
previously made. Gen. Patterson marched to Tampico ; — • 
Gen. Taylor returned to Monterey; — Gen. Worth, M-^ith his 
division, left Gen. Wool in command of Saltillo, and march- 
ed with celerity towards the sea-coast. 

There had been indications, for some time before this, of 
an attack, by Santa Anna, upon the advanced position of 
Saltillo, preparatory to a grand movement, which that gen- 
eral was contemplating, the object of which was, with his 
powerful army, to overrun and reconquer the whole valley 
of the Rio Grande, and annihilate our small force there. — 



456 AMERICANS SURPRISED AT ENCARNACION. 

One alarm had already been given, of his approach, and 
Gen. Taylor had begun his march, to assist Worth, when it 
was rendered unnecessary, by Gen. Wool's army coming in 
from Parras. — Now, Gen. Worth left, in obedience to the 
command of Gen. Scott. — Gen. Wool's force not being 
strong enough, in case of an attack. Gen. Butler, from Mon- 
terey, dispatched, to reinforce him, the Kentucky regiment 
of cavahy, Col. Marshall, the second Kentucky infantry. Col. 
McKee, the second Indiana regiment. Col. Bowles, the third 
Indiana regiment. Col. Lane, and Webster's artillery, all 
under Brig. Gen. Lane. 

In the mean time, reports of the advance of the enemy 
continually increased ; and were at last made certain. — 
Scouts had been, by Gen. Wool, sent out in every direction ; 
but all had been uncertain, until on the night of the 22d of 
January, a combined rcconnoitering party, of forty men and 
officers, of the Arkansas cavalry, under Major Borland, and 
thirty-seven of the Kentucky cavalry, under Major Gaines, 
were surrounded, and subsequently captured by three thou- 
sand Mexican cavalry, under Gen. Minon, at the hacienda of 
Encarnacion, sixty miles south of Saltillo, on the road to San 
Louis Potosi {see map). — This general had made a forced 
inarch of nearly one hundred miles, to surprise them; which 
he did, aided by the darkness and storm of the nighl. — The 
whole command had just returned from a position thirty 
miles nearer Gen. Minon's position, and ninety from Sal- 
tillo, and had not been able to find a trace of the enemy; 
and were now on their return march to camp, and in the 
evening, had halted for the night at the hacienda. Although 
not the slightest probability of an attack was apprehended, 
yet the customary vigilance was pursued, and their sentinels 
were regularly placed. — Gen. Minon, who was an able offi- 
cer, had been in their rear on their return march, all day, 
unknown to them ; and at a late hour coming up, he 
placed his army around the hacienda, at the distance of 
about half a mile, in each direction, and wholly without the 
hearing of the sentinels, in the furious wind and cloudy dark- 
ness; and in this position quietly awaited the morning, 
which, by its first dawn, should reveal to the Americans 



SURRENDER OF MAJOR GAINES. 457 

their situation. — These were, as may well be imagined, as- 
tonished at their position ; surrounded by such an enemy, 
which had appeared so suddenly ; but they were by no 
means intimidated. — The swelling, exulting music of the 
Mexican forces, who, with their glistening arms, belted them 
in as it were, rose clearly, on every side of them ; and was 
answered immediately, by the unwavering notes of defiance 
from the single bugle of the undaunted American cavalry. 
Though small in force, and outnumbered, forty to one, these 
Kentuckian and Arkansas horsemen were eager for the 
strife; and with the utmost alacrity all belted on their arms, 
turned to their noble steeds, and were ready for the con- 
flict. Their gallant commander read in the face of every 
man, the determination of victory or death. — But Gen. Minon 
was too able an officer to expose his men to the sure aim 
and strong arms of these cool-hearted and determined men, 
whose spirit of resistance was borne to his ears by the 
tones of their bugle, while already he had them in his power; 
and so, while his heavy body of lancers, in solid and glit- 
tering array, slowly approached the hacienda on one side, 
a bearer of a white flag came bounding from his lines 
on the other, stating to the Americans the number of 
their force, the uselessness of resistance, and then offering 
honorable terms of surrender. — The number of the Mexicans 
looked large, but the American officers did not believe the 
Mexican report, and all the soldiers wished to fight it out. — 
Gen. Minon sent in a Mexican officer of the same rank, as 
a hostage, while Major Gaines went out into the Mexican 
army, and satisfied himself of their force ; then returned, 
and as it was but throwing away every life to resist, they 
surrendered, upon condition of being treated as prisoners of 
war; and they were marched immediately to the southward. 
About the same time, another scouting party of the Ken- 
tucky cavalry, of seventeen men, under Capt. Heady, were 
surrounded and taken. 

Thus were nearly a hundred men lost; but though they 
were captured, their object was gained, and the result was, 
to the American army, of the highest importance and advan- 
tage ; for by the escape of Capt. Henrie, one of the prison- 



458 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 

ers, and his return, the force of the enemy, and the cer- 
tainty of his advance, became at once known to Gen. 
Wool; who instantly sent a dispatch to Gen. Taylor, which 
reached him just after he had arrived at Monterey from Vic- 
toria. He immediately, with his column that had returned 
from Victoria with him (Col. Davis' Mississippians, Capt. 
Bragg's artillery, and Col. May's dragoons), marched on to 
Saltillo, and proceeding by the hacienda of Buena Vista, en- 
camped the whole army, save a garrison for Saltillo, at the 
base of the Agua Nueva mountain, twenty miles from the 
latter place, and on the road that Santa Anna's army would 
be obliged to come. Here he waited to give that general 
battle, for his approach was now sure. — The time, to the 
21st of February, was devoted to preparing for the approach- 
ing combat ; the passes in the neighboring mountains were 
all examined, to secure the advantages for a battle-ground. 
The position at Buena Vista, twelve miles back towards Sal- 
tillo, which had been selected by Gen. Wool, was examined 
by the engineers, and found to be the best calculated to with- 
stand the attacks of a powerful force ; and to this, on the 
21st of February, as the scouts gave notice that the enemy 
was at hand, the army fell back; arrived there in the even- 
ing, and immediately commenced the preparations for the 
battle. 

Let us turn our attention to the previous movements of 
the enemy ; for, as soon as Santa Anna knew (by the recep- 
tion of the dispatch from Gen. Scott to Gen. Taylor, taken at 
Villa Grande, by the death of Lieut. Ritchie,) of the dispo- 
sition of the American forces, and saw that the valley of 
the Rio Grande was defended but by a small number, he 
put his army in motion for the north, towards Saltillo, after 
sending a strong brigade of cavalry, under Gen. Urrea, 
across the mountains from San Luis, by Tula, to proceed 
through Victoria, Villa Grande and Linares, to the vicinity 
of Monterey, and thus be in Gen. Taylor's rear, to cut to 
pieces any body of American force that might escape the de- 
feat which he was confident, from his superior forces, of in- 
flicting on " old Zack." Gen. Urrea pursued his march on 
the eastern side of the mountains, and arrived near Monterey 



BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 459 

«,t the same time that Santa Anna came on the west of the 
mountains, near Saltillo. 

On the 20th of February, Santa Anna arrived at the haci- 
enda of Encarnacion, thirty miles from Agua Nueva. There 
he sent Gen. Minon, with twelve hundred cavalry, (so stated 
by Santa Anna ; by Gen. Taylor computed to be two thou- 
sand), round the mountains to the right, with instructions to 
get on the rear of Gen. Taylor, and take possession of the 
hacienda of Buena Vista ; and as he (Santa Anna) drove the 
Americans through the pass, to fall upon them. — Gen. Miiion 
set out on this expedition, and on the next day Santa Anna's 
force moved on, and encamped on a plain called De la Guer- 
ra, nine miles from Agua Nueva. 

At daylight on the 22d of February, his army was again 
in motion, and moved on to force the pass of Agua Nueva ; 
but, to his astonishment, no one was found there : for the 
American army had fallen back to the hacienda of Buena 
Vista the preceding day, save the Arkansas cavalry. Col. 
Yell, which remained at the old camp to observe the move- 
ments of the enemy ; and a few miles farther, the second 
Kentucky, Col. McKee, with a section of artillery, halted at 
the rancho of Encantada, to support Col. Yell, should he be 
attacked ; and still farther back, on the battle ground of the 
next day, the first Illinoisans, Col. Hardin, to support them 
both, if driven in. 

On that day, too, the greatest activity had been used in 
removing all the stores, provisions, &c., from Agua Nueva ; 
in the night, all having been done. Col. Yell's regiment, (his 
pickets having been driven in by the Mexican army), and 
Col. McKee's came in, accompanied by the Kentucky cavalry, 
Col. Marshall, and the first dragoons, who had been sent out to 
support them. — Gen. Taylor, in the meantime, accompanied 
by the Mississippi regiment. Col. Davis, Bragg's and Sher- 
man's batteries of artillery, and Col. May's dragoons, pro- 
ceeded back to Saltillo, to make preparations for the defence 
of the city against an attack of Gen. Mifion, and with the 
same force was returning, the next morning, to Buena Vista, 
when the enemy appeared in front at ten, A. M. — A view of 
the battle ground may be seen opposite next page. 



460 EXPLANATION OF PICTURE OF BUENA VISTA. 

The view* is there taken from the north-east part of the 
ground, and of course fronts to the south-west. Although, 
in a view, the position of the various columns cannot be so 
particularly laid down as on a plan, yet, reader, you can ob- 
tain a clearer idea of their movements. You are, as it were, 
looking on the ground before you ; — you see the pass, the 
hacienda, the mountains, and the elevated plain, or plateau, 
upon which so many brave men fell. In front, you see the 
camp of Gen. Wool, as it was in a few days after the battle. 
On the left, rises the high, rugged mountain, on which the 
battle commenced on the evening of the 22d, and re-com- 
menced on the morning of the 23d. The position of our 
light troops there engaged is designated by H H H. — The 
attacking column of the Mexicans is shown by c c c c. 

Across the plain, not seen in the picture, are several deep 
ravines, running from the mountain near H G, out towards 
the hacienda. From i<^ to C is seen the elevated top of the 
plateau, so often mentioned in the battle. Beyond this, about 
twelve miles in the distance, is the tall mountain of Agua 
Nueva; — it is double. — Nearer on the right of the picture, 
you observe the range of mountainous hills that bound the 
plain on that side. 

The position of the troops, during the battle of the 23d, is 
indicated by the letters ; but they are only to express the 
general position of each regiment, for during the engagement 
they were advancing or falling back, and changing position 
continually, though generally operating over the same ground. 

A shows the position of Washington battery at the pass ; 
it was stationed there; — B, a breast- work to the right of the 
battery, where were two companies first Illinoisans. — X 
shows the position of Bragg's battery and the second Ken- 
tucky, during the night before the battle; — C, a hill occu- 
pied on that morning by the first Illinoisans : — D, position 
of the second Kentucky, when first coming into action ; — 



* For this view of the battle ground of Buena Vista, the author is indebted to the 
poUteness of Lieut. Gray, adjutant third regiment, Ohio, by whom it was drawn upon 
the ground, a few weeks after the battle. — The camp of Gen. Wool, in the fore- 
ground, is not precisely correct in its lines, having been placed on from recollection ; 
but as it represents the camp after the battle, the difference is immaterial. 



POSITION OF TROOPS ON THE SECOND DAY. 463 

E, place of second Illinoisans at the same time ; — F, posi- 
tion of second Indianians, where the heavy Mexican column 
a a first made its attack; — G, Kentucky cavalry; — H H H, 
riflemen, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, and Illinois ; — /, Col. 
May's dragoons and Capt. Pike's squadron Arkansas cavalry ; 
— /, Arkansas cavalry ; — L, third Indiana, position while 
operating against column a a, a a ; — M, Mississippi regiment, 
as attacking the column a a, a a ; — N, the hacienda of Buena 
Vista. 

Coming round the base of the mountain, and on the plain 
a a, a a, a a, a a, is the position of Gen. Pacheco's column, 
three thousand infantry, a large body of cavalry, and four 
pieces artillery. After turning the American left at F, they 
came round to the rear, were checked by the Mississippi 
regiment, and fully repulsed by the Mississippi, third Indi- 
ana, part of second Indiana, Arkansas and Kentucky cav- 
alry. May's dragoons, and Bragg's and Sherman's batteries 
artillery. 

The letter b, to the left of F, shows the position of a Mex- 
ican battery there established after the column a a, a a, had 
gained its position ; — c c, c c, shows the position of Gen. Am- 
pudia's body of Mexican troops on the 22d, and the larger 
body of those of Gen. Lombardini on the 23d. The posi- 
tion of the letter d, points out the situation of a heavy Mex- 
ican battery beyond the plateau and pass. — The letter e 
shows the position of the heavy column under Gen. Ampu- 
dia attacking the American right ',—ff, f f, shows the final 
and heaviest attack of the Mexican army, directed over the 
plateau, in the direction o£ F E D C. This was under the 
command of Gen. Perez, and was composed of the division 
of Gen. Pacheco, a a, a a, now retreated, Gen. Ampudia, e, 
and all the reserved forces of the Mexican army. — It was 
checked near Z), by Capt. O'Brien's artillery, with the loss of 
his guns ; repulsed by the second Kentucky, first and second 
Illinois, Bragg's and Sherman's artillery, assisted by the Mis- 
sissippi and 3d Indiana regiments, and Washington's battery. 

The battle commenced shortly after the arrival of the en- 
emy ; and as " old Zach." who fought the battle, has written 
the plainest account of it, we will give it in his words : 



464 BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 

HEADaUARTERS, ArMY OF OCCUPATION. 

Agua Nueva, March 6, 1847. 

" Sir : — I have the honor to submit a detailed report of the 
operations of the forces under my command, which resulted 
in the engagement of Buena Vista, the repulse of the Mexi- 
can array, and the re-occupation of this position. 

" The information which reached me of the advance and 
concentration of a heavy Mexican force in my front, had 
assumed such a probable form, as to induce a special exam- 
ination far beyond the reach of our pickets, to ascertain its 
correctness. A small party of Texan spies, under Major 
McCulloch, dispatched to the hacienda of Encarnacion, thirty 
miles from this, on the route to San Luis Potosi, had reported 
a cavalry force of unknown strength at that place. On the 
20th of February, a strong reconnoissance, under Lieut. -col. 
May, was dispatched to the hacienda of Heclionda, while 
Major McCulloch made another examination of Encarnacion. 
The results of these expeditions left no doubt that the enemy 
was in large force at Encarnacion, under the orders of Gen. 
Santa Anna, and that he meditated a forward movement and 
attack upon our position. 

" As the camp of Agua Nueva could be turned on either 
flank, and as the enemy's force was greatly superior to our 
own, particularly in the arm of cavalry, I determined, after 
much consideration, to take up a position about eleven miles 
in rear, and there await the attack. The army broke up its 
camp and marched at noon on the 21st, encamping at the 
new position a little in front of the hacienda of Buena Vista. 
With a small force, I proceeded to Saltillo, to make some 
necessary arrangements for the defence of the town, leaving 
Brig. Gen. Wool in the immediate command of the troops. 

" Before these arrangements were completed on the morn- 
ing of the 22d, I was advised that the enemy was in sight, 
advancing. Upon reaching the ground, it was found that 
his cavalry was in our front, having marched from Encarna- 
cion, as we have since learned, at eleven o'clock on the day 
previous, and driving in a mounted force left at Agua Nueva 
to cover the removal of public stores. Our troops were in 
position occupying a line of remarkable strength. The road 



DISPOSITION OF TROOPS ON FIRST DAY. 465 

at this point becomes a narrow defile, the valley on its right 
being rendered quite impracticable for artillery by a system 
of deep and impassable gullies, while on the left a succes- 
sion of rugged ridges and precipitous ravines extends far 
back towards the mountain which bounds the valley. The 
features of the ground were such as nearly to paralyze the 
artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while his infantry could 
not derive all the advantages of its numerical superiority. — 
In this position we prepared to receive him. 

" Capt. Washington's battery* (4th artillery) was posted to 
command the road, while the first and 2d Illinois regiments, 
under Cols. Hardin and Bissell, each eight companies, (to 
the latter of which was attached Capt. Conner's company 
of Texan volunteers), and the 2d Kentucky, under Col. Mc- 
Kee, occupied the crests of the ridges on the left and in rear. 
The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of cavahy, comman- 
ded by Cols. Yell and H. Marshall, occupied the extreme 
left, near the base of the mountain, while the Indiana brig- 
ade, under Brig. Gen. Lane, (composed of the 2d and 3d regi- 
ments, under Cols. Bowles and Lane), the Mississippi rifle- 
men, under Col. Davis, the squadrons of the 1st and 2d dra- 
goons, under Capt. Steen and Lieut. -col. May, and the light 
batteries of Capts. Sherman and Bragg, 3d artillery, were 
held in reserve. 

"At eleven o'clock, I received from Gen. Santa Anna a 
summons to surrender at discretion, which, with a copy of 
my reply, I have already transmitted. f The enemy still for- 

* Marked A in picture, 
t [translation.] 

SUMMONS OF SANTA A.NKA TO GENERAL TATLOU. 

You are surrounded by twenty thousand men, and cannot, in any human probabil- 
ity, avoid suffering a rout, and being cut to pieces, with your troops ; but as you de- 
serve consideration and particular esteem, I wish to save you from a catastrophe, and 
for that purpose give you this notice, in order that you may surrender at discretion, 
under the assurance that you will be treated with the consideration belonging to the 
Mexican character ; to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your 
mind, to commence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in your camp. — 
With this view, I assure you of my particular consideration. 

God and Liberty. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA 

Camp at Encantada, February 22d, 1847. 
To Gen. Z. Taylor, conimariding the forces of the United States, 
30 



r 
466 ACTION OF THE TWENTY-SECOND. 

bore his attack, evidently awaiting for the arrival of his reer 
columns, which could be distinctly seen by our look-outs as 
they approached the field. A demonstration made on his 
left, caused me to detach the 2d Kentucky regiment and a 
section of artillery to our right, in which position they bi- 
vouaciced for the night.* 

" In the meantime, the Mexican light troopsf had engaged 
ours on the extreme left, (composed of parts of the Ken- 
tucky and Arkansas cavalry, dismounted, and a rifle bat- 
talion from the Indiana brigade, under Major Gorman, the 
whole commanded by Colonel Marshall), and kept up a 
sharp fire, climbing the mountain side, and apparently en- 
deavoring to gain our flank. Three pieces of Capt. Wash- 
ington's battery had been detached to the left, and were sup- 
ported by the 2d Indiana regiment. An occasional shell 
was thrown by the enemy into this part of our line, but with- 
out effect. The skirmishing of the light troops was kept up, 
with trifling loss on our part, until dark, when I became con- 
vinced that no serious attack would be made before the morn- 
ing, and returned with the Mississippi regiment and 2d dra- 
goons to Saltillo. The troops bivouacked without fires, and 
laid upon their arms. 

"A body of cavalr}^, some fifteen hundred strong, had been 
visible all day in rear of the town, having entered the valley 
through a narrow pass east of the city. This cavalry, com- 

HEAuauAUTEns, AnMT OF Occupation, 
Near Buena Vista, February 22, 1847. 
SiH : — In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to surrender my force at 
discretion, I beg leave to say that I decline acceding to your request. 
With high respect, I am, sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

Z. TAYLOR, MaJ. Gm. U. S. army com'g. 
SExon GE?f. D. Antonto Lopez be Santa Anna, 
Commandtr-in-chicf, La Encantada. 
• Marked X in view. 

j- 'i'hesc, about fifteen hundred in number, were under the command of Gen. Am- 
pudia and Col. Baneneli, and their position is shown by the small letters c c c. This 
day they only were near the base of the mountain, not so high as the upper c c c 
which position they took during the night, and from which, (being reinforced to the 
number of two thousand five hundred, under Gen. Lombardini), they commenced the 
battle on the 23d. 



REPULSE OF AMPUDIA'S COLUMN. 467 

manded by Gen. Minon, had evidently been thrown in our 
rear to break up and harrass our retreat, and perhaps make 
some attempt against the town, if practicable. The city was 
occupied by four excellent companies of Illinois volunteers, 
under Major Warren, of the first regiment. A field work, 
which commanded most of the approaches, was garrisoned 
by Capt. Webster's company, 1st artillery, and armed with 
two twenty-four pound howitzers, while the train and head- 
quarter camp was guarded by two companies Mississippi rifle- 
men, under Capt. Rogers, and a field-piece commanded by 
Capt. Shover, 3d artillery. Having made these dispositions 
for the protection of the rear, I proceeded, on the morning 
of the 23d, to Buena Vista, ordering forward all the other 
available troops. The action had commenced before my ar- 
rival on the field. 

" During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy had 
thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side, with 
the purpose of outflanking our left; and it was here that the 
action of the 23d commenced, at an early hour. Our rifle- 
men, under Col. Marshall, who had been reinforced by three 
companies under Major Trail, second Illinois volunteers, 
maintained their ground handsomely against a greatly supe- 
rior force, holding themselves under cover, and using their 
weapons with deadly effect.* About six o'clock, a strong 
demonstration was made against the centre of our position, 
a heavy column moving along the road.f This force was 
soon dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from 
Capt. Washington's battery. In the meantime the enemy 
was concentrating a large force of infantry and cavalry un- 
der cover of the ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing 
our left, which was posted on an extensive plateau.:]: The 

• These troops, under Col. Marshall, are marked in position by the letters H H H. 

■j- The position of these troops, though concealed by the " pass," is shown by the 
letter e on the view. They were under Gen. Ampudia. 

it This column of troops, which attacked the 2d Indiana, (the position of which 
is marked F), and the 2d Illinois, (position E), was commanded by Gen. Pacheco; 
consisted of three thousand infantry, accompanied by nearly two thousand cavalry and 
four pieces of artillery, which were placed in battery, (at 6). The brunt of opposing 
this heavy force, from their position, fell on the 2d Indiana regiment, and Capt» 
O'Brien's artillery. 



468 ATTACK OF GEN. PACHECO. 

second Indiana and second Illinois regiments formed this 
part of our line, the former covering three pieces of light 
artillery, under the orders of Capt. O'Brien; — Brig. Gen. Lane 
being in immediate command. In order to bring his men 
within effective range. Gen. Lane ordered the artillery and 
second Indiana regiment forward. The artillery advanced 
within musket range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, 
and was served against it with great effect, but without be- 
ing able to check its advance. The infantry ordered to its 
support had fallen back in disorder, being exposed, as well 
as the battery, not only to a severe fire of small arms in 
front, but also to a murderous cross-fire of grape and can- 
nister, from a Mexican battery on the left.* Capt. O'Brien 
found it impossible to retain his position without support, 
but was only able to withdraw two of his pieces, all the 

* Never have troops been more abused by public opinion, (controlled and directed 
by letter-writers from the army), than have these 2d Indianians ; and although a court 
of inquiry aftervs'ards investigated fully the matter, and came to a far different opinion 
than that thus sent back to the United States, still many arc under a misapprehension 
with regard to them. — From their position, they were forced to withstand the princi- 
pal weight of Gen. Pacheco's heavy columns of infantry and cavalry, and were further 
exposed to the cross-fire of grape and cannister from the Mexican battery of artillery, 
placed at b, in picture. Pacheco's troops were fresh, — for it was the first assault, — 
and confident of victory from very numerical force. — The 2d Illinois, under the 
gallant Bissell, were some distance to the right of the Indianians. — Col. Mar- 
shall's force of dismounted cavalry, and infantry riflemen, were to the left, and 
on the mountain, closely engaged with the far greater force of Gen. Lombar- 
dini. — Thus placed, the second Indiana stood its ground, although suffering so se- 
■verely from the enemy in front, and their battery on their left. — Retreat was never 
thought of by them while with coolness they loaded and fired ; not once or twice, but 
delivered, in that position, twenty-one volleys round, in the meantime losing thirty-two 
killed and thirty-six wounded — Col. Bowles, seeing his men falling in such numbera 
before the shower of musket balls, grape, and cannister, sweeping through them, he, 
himself, unadvisedly and unfortunately ordered the regiment to " cease firing and 
retreat," — But still they stood, unwilling to go. He repeated the order, before it wa« 
obeyed ; and then the left, in obedience, began to retreat, followed by the right, who 
were still firing. But the colonel, having thus most unfortunately broken up the 
line, and sent them on retreat, with no place designated to re-form, and with the 
tremendous fire of the enemy behind them, had got them into a situation from which 
he could not extricate them. — Confidence was gone. — The order to retreat, earnestly 
given from him, conveyed to the minds of every one that he despaired of main- 
taining his ground ; and it was, in fact, equivalent to an order for every man to save 
himself. — They believed the battle lost, not from fear, but on account of the order 
-SO given and repeated. — There was no time now for explanation ; the mischief had 



RETREAT OF SECOND INDIANA REGIMENT. 469 

horses and cannoneers of the third piece being killed or dis- 
abled. The second Indiana regiment, which had fallen back 
as stated, could not be rallied, and took no further part in 
the action, except a handful of men,* who, under its gallant 
colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good 
service, and those fugitives who, at a later period of the da}', 
assisted in defending the train and depot at Buena Vista. 
This portion of our line having given way, and the enemy 
appearing in overwhelming force against our left flank, the 
light troops which had rendered such good service on the 
mountain, were compelled to withdraw, which they did, for 
the most part, in good order. Many, however, "were not ral- 
lied until they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the de- 
fence of which they afterwards contributed. 

" Col. Bissell's regiment,! (2d Illinois), which had been join- 
been done ; the impression forced on the men ; and the fire of the enemy was in the 
rear. — The court of inquiry, after patient investigation, pronounced this movement of 
Col. Bowles to proceed not from cowardice, (for he fought most gallantly all the day 
afterward, in the ranks of the Mississippi regiment), but from an ill-judged motive of 
expediency, to save the lives of his men. — Such was the retreat of the 2d Indianians. 

Reader, judge of them impartially ; place any other regiment, even of the oldest 
regulars, in their situation — put them before a well-armed and fresh force, of ten times 
their number, in front, and on their flank an active battery sending grape and cannister 
in showers through them, — and then, after standing in the face of such a force, in the 
heat of the battle let them hear their own colonel, to whom they look for all commands, 
loudly calling to them to retreat, and repeating it, and the idea will flash on every 
soldier's mind, that the day is lost, and that every one is to retreat for himself. 

This was a battle of volunteers, and no regiment engaged in it had before been in 
one, save the Mississippi, which had done such good service at Monterey. — The re- 
giments stood their ground and fought with such bravery for ten hours, against the 
legions opposed to them — with such heroic firmness resisting the concentrated attacks 
from morn till night, that praise of them is idle ; — to look at their conduct excites not 
only admiration, but astonishment. 

* " From one hundred and fifty to two hundred." See proceedings of court of in- 
quiry, published at Saltillo, May 3d, 1847. 

f This 2d Illinois regiment acted, during the entire day, in the most gallant manner. 
— As the 2d Indiana retreated, and the heavy column of the enemy advanced upon 
the ground which had been occupied by it, this regiment fell back from its position, E, 
on picture, two or three hundred yards, towards D. This movement was performed in 
the face of the enemy, as it would have been on parade : being faced about, marched 
the distance, and again faced to the front. They received several volleys here, then 
advanced nearer, and engaged the main body of the enemy for thirty minutes, suffer- 
ing severely. Their gallant colonel drew them oflf to the right, and attacked, with the 
1st Illinois and 2d Kentucky, the left of the enemy ; afterward was in the last charge 



470 RESISTANCE OF PACHECO'S ATTACK. 

ed by a section of Capt. Sherman's battery, had become com- 
pletely oiitllanked, and was compelled to fall back, being 
entirely unsupported. The enemy was now pouring masses 
of infantry and cavalry along the base of the mountain on 
our left, and was gaining our rear in great force. At this 
moment I arrived upon the field. The Mississippi regiment* 
had been directed to the left before reaching the position, 
and immediately came into action against the Mexican cav- 
alry which had turned our flank. The 2d Kentucky regi- 
ment and a section of artillery under Capt. Bragg had previ- 
ously been ordered from the right to reinforce our left, and 
arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment, and 
a portion of the 1st Illinois under Col. Hardin, gallantly 
drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground we 
had lost. The batteries of captains Sherman and Bragg 
were in position on the plateau, and did much execution — 
not only in front, but particularly upon the masses which 
had gained our rear. Discovering that the enemy was hea- 
vily pressing upon the Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indiana 
regiment, under Col. Lane, was dispatched to strengthen that 
part of our line which formed a crotchet perpendicular to 
the first line of battle. At the same time, Lieut. Kilburn, 
with a piece of Capt. Bragg's battery, was commanded to 
support the infantry there engaged. The action was for a 
long time warmly sustained at that point — the enemy ma- 

of the day against the column f f f ; and took the colors of the Guanajuata regi- 
ment, after hard fighting. The loss of this regiment was more severe than that of anj 
other. It had one captain, nine lieutenants, thirty-seven non-commissioned officers 
and privates killed, and three captains, four lieutenants, and sixty-seven non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates wounded. Two companies of this regiment, under Major 
Trail, — captains Leman's and Woodward's, — fought on the mountains, H H, and on 
the left, at and near the hacienda ; and two more were detached for the defence of 
Saltillo. 

* This regiment, under Col. Davis, leaving two of its companies at Saltillo, accom- 
panied Gen. Taylor on that morning to the battle-field. On the way they heard the 
artillery, which assured them that the battle had commenced ; and they hastened on, 
arrived, and immediately, unsupported, advanced against the heavy victorious column 
of the enemy, which, more than four thousand strong of cavalry and infantry, had 
turned the American left. The regiment took a position near M, and opened a 
volley when near the enemy ; and continued, although suffering severely, to advance 
with such deadly fire upon the column, that it fell back, and a column of cavalry were 
sent round to attack the fearless Mississippians in the rear ; but, in crossing around to 



REPULSE OF PACHECO'S COLUMN. 471 

king several attempts, both with infantry and cavah-y, against 
our line, and being repulsed always with heavy loss. I had 
placed all the regular cavalry and Capt. Pike's squadron of 
Arkansas horse under the orders of brevet Lieut. Col. May, 
with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, still 
advancing in the rear along the base of the mountain, which 
was done in connection with the Kentucky and Arkansas 
cavalry, under colonels Marshall and Yell. In the meantime 
our left, which was still strongly threatened by a superior 
force, was further strengthened by the detachment of Capt. 
Bragg's and a portion of Capt. Sherman's batteries to that 
quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon the mass 
of the enemy along the base of the mountain, and the de- 
termined resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to 
them, had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the 
corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line of 
battle. The squadron of the 1st dragoons, under Lieut. 
Rucker, was now ordered up the deep ravine which these 
retreating corps were endeavoring to cross, in order to charge 
and disperse them. The squadron proceeded to the point 
indicated, but could not accomplish the object, being exposed 
to a heavy fire from a battery established to cover the retreat 
of those corps. While the squadron was detached upon this 
service, a large body of the enemy wa^ observed to concen- 
trate on our extreme left, apparently with the view of ma- 
do this, they were received with such a destructive fire from the rifles, as wholly to dis- 
perse them with much loss. — The regiment re-formed, and, joined by the 3d Indiana 
(at L) and a piece of artillery of Bragg's battery, under Lieut. Kilbuni, again attacked 
the heavy column, and forced it to retire toward the mountain ; but, coming in the 
range of a battery of the enemy, they fell back, and were charged upon by the whole 
body of Mexican cavalry. Forming its line as these came up, with the third Indiana, 
they received the lancers with such fatal volleys as immediately to force them to fall 
back ; and, shortly after, v^'ith the aid of other troops, the whole column, a a, a a, was 
forced to retreat. — In the severe and bloody final charge of the whole Mexican force 
under Gen. Perez, on the high plain, FED, toivards C, the Mississippians were of the 
greatest service — reaching the ground opposite E, and pouring a destructive fire into 
the enemy's flank, as he endeavored to force the position ; and when the head of the 
column had come near to Bragg's battery, then stationed near D, the fire was so severe 
that the enemy's right was immediately broken. Most nobly did the regiment and its 
gallant commander, who was wounded at the first fire, sustain, through the day, thn 
reputation of their State. Many brave men fell m its ranks ; loss, forty-two killed 
and fifty-one wounded. Number of men in action, three hundred and forly-one. 



472 PACHFXO'S ATTACK ON THE HACIENDA. 

king a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our 
train and baggage were deposited. Lieut. Col. May was or- 
dered to the support of that point, with two pieces of Capt. 
Sherman's battery under Lieut. Reynolds. In the meantime 
the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of 
majors Trail's and Gorman's commands, had been to some 
extent organized under the advice of Major Monroe, chief 
of artillery, with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer 
stair, and were posted to defend the position. Before our 
cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy had 
made its attack, having been handsomely met by the Ken- 
tucky and Arkansas cavalry, under colonels Marshall and 
Yell.* The Mexican column immediately divided — one por- 
tion sweeping by the depot, where it received a destructive 
fire from the force which had collected there, and then gain- 
ing the mountain opposite, under a fire from Lieut. Reynolds' 
section, the remaining portion regaining the base of the 
mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Col. 
Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment ; we also lost 
Adj. Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry — a young officer of 
much promise. Lieut. Col. May, who had been rejoined by 
the squadron of the 1st dragoons, and by portions of the 
Arkansas and Indiana troops, under Lieut. Col. Roane and 
Major Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, 
holding in check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose 

* These two regiments, Kentucky cavalry, Col. Marshall, and Arkansas, Col. Yell 
together with the few regular dragoons under Col. May, during the battle on the 23d, 
had most severe and laborious services to perform — They had had no rest on the pre- 
vious day, the 21st, or even on the 20th ; nor until after the battle was finished on the 
23d, was there any cessation of their exertion. — The rifle battalion of each, dismount- 
ed, in conjunction with that of the 2d Indiana, fought on the mountain side, in the 
position H H, during the afternoon of the 22d, and, reinforced by the rifle battalion 
of the 2d Illinois, commenced here the glorious action of the 23d. — When Gen. Pa- 
checo's heavy column a a, a a, had succeeded in turning the American left, these 
detachments retired to the plain, and there kept up their exertions. — The mounted 
companies had continually their utmost endeavors to make, in repelling, with the other 
regiments, the onward march of this column ; and in these heroic and successful 
efforts, they lost many of their number, and among them Col. Yell, the brave and tal- 
ented commander of the Arkansas troops. He fought at their head, and was killed 
in the charge, not far from the trees seen in picture. 

Loss of Kentucky cavalry, killed and wounded, 61. — Loss of Arkansas, killed, 
wounded and missing, 53. 



REPULSE OF GEN. MINON"S CAVALRY. 473 

masses, crowded in the narrow gorges and the ravines, our 
artillery was doing fearful execution. 

" The position of that portion of the Mexican army which 
had gained our rear was now very critical, and it seemed 
doubtful whether it could regain the main body. At this 
moment I received from Gen. Santa Anna a message by a 
stafl' officer, desiring to know what I wanted? I immedi- 
ately dispatched Brig. Gen. Wool to the Mexican general- 
in-chief, and sent orders to cease firing. Upon reaching the 
Mexican lines, Gen. Wool could not cause the enemy to cease 
their fire, and accordingly returned without having an inter- 
view. The extreme right of the enemy continued its retreat 
along the base of the mountain, and, finally, in spite of all 
our efforts, effected a junction with the remainder of the 
army. 

" During the remainder of the day, Gen. Mifion* had as- 
cended the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the 
road from the city to the field of battle, where they inter- 
cepted several of our men. Approaching the town, they were 
fired upon by Capt. Webster, from the redoubt occupied by 
his company, and then moved on towards the eastern side 
of the valley, and obliquely towards Buena Vista. At this 
time, Capt. Shover moved rapidly forward with his piece, 
supported by a miscellaneous command of mounted volun- 
teers, and fired several shots at the cavalry, with great ef- 
fect. They were driven into the ravines which lead to the 
lower valley, closely pursued by Capt. Shover, who was fur- 
ther supported by a piece of Capt. Webster's battery, under 
Lieut. Donaldson, which had advanced from the redoubt, 
supported by Capt. Wheeler's company Illinois volunteers. 

* Santa Anna, in his account of this battle, lays all the blame of his want of suc- 
cess at the door of Gen. Minon ; for that general, he says, was ordered to charge upon 
the American force on the left, instead of doing which, he contented himself wiili re- 
maining all day in position between Buena Vista and Saltillo, and in making an un- 
successful demonstration on the latter place. — Gen. Minon, on the other hand, main- 
tains to the effect that his instructions from Gen. Santa Anna were for him to take 
position where he did, and fall on the " Yankees," after Santa Anna had driven them 
through the pass ; and he maintains that he exactly performed his orders, save as to 
cutting down and annihilating said " Yankees;" which failure resulted only from the 
fact that Gen. Santa Anna was not able, with all his force, to drive them through the 
pass towards him. 



474 FINAL ATTACK OF THE MEXICAN ARMY. 

The enemy made one or two efforts to charge the artillery, 
but was finally driven back in a confused mass, and did not 
again appear upon the plain. 

" In the meantime, the firing had partially ceased upon the 
principal field.* The enemy seemed to confine his elibrts to 
the protection of his artillery, and I had left the plateau for 
a moment, when I was recalled thither b}' a heavy musketry 
fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that our in- 
fantry (Illinois and 2d Kentucky) had engaged a greatly su- 
perior force of the enemy — evidently his reserve — and that 
they had been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was 
most critical. Capt. O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustain- 
ed this heavy charge to the last, and was finally obliged to 
leave his guns on the field — his infantry support being en- 
tirely routed. Capt. Bragg, who had just arrived from the 
left, Avas ordered at once into battery. Without any infantry 
to support him, and at the imminent risk of losing his guns 
this ofiicer came rapidly into action, the Mexican line being 
but a few 3^ards from the muzzle of his pieces. The first 
discharge of cannister caused the enemy to hesitate ; the se- 
cond and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the 
day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, which had advanced be- 
yond supporting distance in this affair, was driven back, and 

* The last great struggle of the day was now about to be brought on. The attack- 
ing column of Gen. Ampudia, on the right, had been repulsed by the rapid and de- 
structive discharge of Capt. Washington's battery. The column of Gen. Pacheco, 
on the left, after partial success, had. been driven back by the Mississippi, third 
Indiana infantry, Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, Col. May's dragoons, Bragg's, 
Sherman's, and Kilburn's artillery, and the miscellaneous force at the hacienda. — 
The centre column, under Gen. Villamil, had been repul.sed by the 1st and 2d Illinois, 
and the second Kentucky, aided by Capt. O'Brien's and others' artillery. 'I'hus, the 
three separate charges upon difll-rent portions of the American position, although 
desperate and bloody on both sides, had failed, and the dead and dying covered the 
hard fought field. — In this last charge, the whole power of the Mexican army was to 
be brought to bear upon the American centre. 

While this lull in the storm of battle was taking place, during which the artillery, 
only, on both sides, belched forth their opposing thunders, Santa Anna was, with the 
greatest activity, throwing his columns together for this grand charge. — Gen. Ampu- 
dia's column was united to those of Gen. Pacheco and Gen. Villamil, and to this 
force were added all the fresh troops of the reserve ; the whole was placed under the 
command of Gen. Perez ; and the vast body came down like an avalanche, on the 
elevated plain, in the direction yy, f f. 



REPULSE OF GEN. PEREZ. 475 

closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking a ravine 
■which led in the direction of Capt. Washington's battery, 
their pursuers became exposed to his fire, which soon check- 
ed and drove them back with loss. 

" In the meantime, the rest of our artillery had taken po- 
sition on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and 3d In- 
diana regiments, the former of which had reached the ground 
in time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and 
thus contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict, we had 
the misfortune to sustain a very heavy loss. Col. Hardin, 
1st Illinois, and Col. McKee and Lieut. Col. Clay, 2d Ken- 
tucky regiment,* fell at this time, while gallantly heading 
their commands. 

" No farther attempt was made by the enemy to force our 
position, and the approach of night gave an opportunity to 
pay proper attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the 
soldiers, who had been exhausted by incessant watchfulness 
and combat. Though the night was extremely cold, the 
troops were compelled for the most part to bivoua' k without 
fires, expecting that morning would renew the conflict. Du- 
ring the night, the wounded were removed to Saltillo, and 
every preparation made to receive the enemy, should he 
again attack our position. Seven fresh companies were 
drawn from the town, and Brig. Gen. Marshall, who had 
made a forced march from the Rinconada, with a reinforce- 
ment of Kentucky cavahy and four heavy guns, under Capt. 
Prentiss, 1st artillery, was near at hand, when it was discov- 
ered that the enemy had abandoned his position during the 
night. Our scouts soon ascertained that he had fallen back 
upon Agua Nueva. The great disparity of numbers, and the 

* This gallant 2d Kentucky regiment, whose loss in killed and wounded was most 
severe, was engaged through the day, in conjunction with the two Illinois regiments, 
upon the elevated plateau, D E F. On the evening of the day before, it had been 
ordered from its first position, in rear of Washington's battery. A, to accompany and 
support Bragg's battery, to the position A', to the extreme right. — Here they remained 
on their arms during the night, and at the commencement of the action of the 2.3d. at 
daylight, they crossed to the centre, and took position in the battle on the plateau at D 
A most enthusiastic ardor in the regiment was manifested throughout the long-con- 
•tested conflict. 

Loss of the regiment during the day, 44 killed, 57 wounded, 1 missing. — Total, 102. 



476 RETREAT OF MEXICAN ARMY. 

exhaustion of our troops rendered it inexpedient and hazard- 
ous to attempt a pursuit. A staff officer was sent to Gen. 
Santa Anna to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which 
was satisfactorily completed on the following day. Our own 
dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican wounded, 
of which a large number had been left upon the field, were 
removed to Saltillo, and rendered as comfortable as circum- 
stances would permit. 

'* On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance was 
made of the enemy's position, which was found to be occu- 
pied only by a small body of cavalry, the infantry and ar- 
tillery having retreated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. 
On the 27th, our troops resumed their former camp at Agua 
Nueva, the enemy's rear guard evacuating the place as we 
approached, leaving a considerable number of wounded. It 
was my purpose to beat up his quarters at Incarnacion early 
the next morning, but upon examination, the weak condition 
of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to attempt so 
long a march without water. A command was finally dis- 
patched to Incarnacion, on the 1st of March, under Col. Bel- 
knap. Some two hundred wounded, and about sixty Mexi- 
can soldiers were found there, the army having passed on in 
the direction of Matahuala, with greatly reduced numbers, 
and suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were 
strewed upon 'the road, and crowded the buildings of the 
hacienda. 

" The American force engaged in the action of Buena Vista 
is shown, by the accompanying field report, to have been 
three hundred and thirty-four officers, and four thousand four 
hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small com- 
mand left near and in Saltillo. Of this number, two squad- 
rons of cavalry, and three batteries of light artillery, making 
not more than four hundred and fifty-three men, composed, 
the only force of regular troops.* The strength of the Mexi- 
can army is stated by Gen. Santa Anna, in his summons, to- 
be twenty thousand ; and that estimate is confirmed by all" 

* Volunteers: officers and men in battle of Buena Vista, 4,420 ; loss in killed, 263 j 
wounded, 371; missing, 21. Regulars: number of officers and men, 493 ; loss in- 
killed, 7 ; wounded, 5.5 ; missing, 3. 



LOSS OF EITHER ARMY. 477 

the information since obtained. Our loss is two hundred 
and sixty-seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded, 
and twenty-three missing. Of the numerous \vounded, many 
did not require removal to the hospital, and it is hoped that 
a comparatively small number will be permanently disabled. 
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded may be fairly esti- 
mated at one thousand five hundred, and will probably reach 
two thousand. At least five hundred of their killed were 
left upon the field of battle. We have no means of ascer- 
taining the number of deserters and dispersed men from their 
ranks, but it is known to be very great. 

" Our loss has been especially severe in officers, twenty- 
eight having been killed upon the field. We have to lament 
the death of Capt. George Lincoln, assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral, serving on the staff" of Gen. Wool — a young officer of 
high bearing and approved gallantry, who fell early in the 
action. No loss falls more heavily upon the army in the 
field than that of colonels Hardin and McKee, and Lieut. Col. 
Clay. Possessing in a remarkable degree the confidence of 
their commands, and the last two having enjoyed the advan- 
tage of a military education, I had looked particularly to 
them for support in case we met the enemy. I need not say 
that their zeal in engaging the enemy, and the cool and stead- 
fast courage with which they maintained their positions du- 
ring the day, fully realized my hopes, and caused me to feel 
yet more sensibly their untimely loss. 

" I perform a grateful duty in bringing to the notice of the 
government the general good conduct of the troops. Ex- 
posed for successive nights, without fires, to the severity of 
the weather, they were ever prompt and cheerful in the dis- 
charge of every duty, and finally displayed conspicuous stea- 
diness and gallantry in repulsing, at great odds, a disciplined 
foe. While the brilliant success achieved by their arms re- 
leases me from the painful necessity of specifying many cases 
of bad conduct before the enemy, I feel an increased obliga- 
tion to mention particular corps and officers, whose skill, 
coolness and gallantry, in trying situations and under a con- 
tinued and heavy fire, seem to merit particular notice. 

" To Brig. Gen. Wool my obligations are especially due. 



478 CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND TROOPS. 

The high state of discipline and instruction of several of the 
volunteer regiments was attained under his command ; and 
to his vigilance and arduous services before the action, and 
his gallantry and activity on the field, a large share of our 
success may justly be attributed. — During most of the en- 
gagement, he was in immediate command of the troops 
thrown back on our left flank. 1 beg leave to recommend 
him to the favorable notice of the government. Brig. Gen. 
Lane (slightly wounded) was active and zealous throughout 
the day, and displayed great coolness and gallantry before 
the enemy. 

"The services of the light artillery, always conspicuous, 
were more than usually distinguished. Moving rapidly over 
the roughest ground, it was always in action at the right 
place, and the right time ; and its well-directed fire dealt 
destruction in the masses of the enemy. While I recom- 
mend to particular favor, the gallant conduct and valuable 
services of Major Munroe, chief of artillery, and Captains 
Washington, 4th artillery, and Sherman and Bragg, 3d artil- 
lery, commanding batteries, I deem it no more than just, to 
mention all the subordinate oflicers. They were nearly all 
detached at different times, and in every situation exhibited 
conspicuous skill and gallantry. Capt. O'Brien,* Lieuts. 
Brent, Whiting, and Couch, 4th artillery, and Bryan, Topo- 
graphical Engineers (slightly wounded), were attached to 
Capt. Washington's battery. Lieuts. Thomas, Reynolds, 
and French, 3d artillery (severely wounded), to that of Capt. 

* This gallant officer lost three cannon during the day ; and the possession of these 
enabled Santa Anna, in his flowing dispatch, to conceal his terrible defeat, by claim- 
ing a victory. The first one was lost in the attack on the plateau by Gen. Pachcco, 
from the fact that the horses and cannoneers were all killed or disabled, so that it 
could not be brought otT. — 'J'he other two were lost in the main and last attack on the 
centre, by the whole disposable Mexican force under Gen. Perez. Capt. O'Brien sac- 
rificed these guns by intention ; keeping the enemy in check by them, until the other 
artillery and infantry arrived, and the regiments of infantry concentrated, pouring a 
deadly fire on the massive column. The situation of the artillery is not placed in the 
picture, for, save the battery at A, they were continually back and forth, over the 
whole ground, during the day. The battery of Capt. Bragg discharged about two 
hundred and fifty rounds of round shot, grape and cannister ; the other biitteries 
nearly the same. The infantry regiments discharged from seventy to ninety rounds 
of cartridges per man, during the same time. 



CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND TROOPS. 479 

Sherman ; and Capt. Shover, and Lieut. Kilburn, 3d artil- 
lery, to that of Capt. Bragg. — Capt. Shover, in conjunction 
with Lieut. Donaldson, rendered gallant and important ser- 
vice in repulsing the cavalry of Gen. Miiion. The regular 
cavalry, under Lieut. Col. May, with which was associated 
Capt. Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse, rendered useful ser- 
vice in holding the enemy in check, and in covering the bat- 
teries, at several points. Capt. Steen, 1st dragoons, was 
severely wounded early in the day, while gallantly endeav- 
oring, with my authority, to rally the troops which were 
falling in the rear. 

" The Mississippi riflemen, under Col. Davis, were highly 
conspicuous for their gallantry and steadiness, and sustain- 
ed, throughout the engagement, the reputation of veteran 
troops. Brought into action against an immensely superior 
force, they maintained themselves for a long time, unsup- 
ported, and with heavy loss, and held an important part of 
the field until reinforced. Col. Davis, though severely woun- 
ded, remained in his saddle until the close of the action. — 
His distinguished coolness and gallantry at the head of his 
regiment on this day entitle him to the particular notice of 
the government. The 3d Indiana regiment,* under Col. 
Lane, and a fragment of the 2d, under Col. Bowles, were as- 
sociated with the Mississippi regiment during a greater por- 
tion of the day, and acquitted themselves creditably in re- 
pulsing the attempts of the enemy to take that portion of 
our line. The Kentucky cavalry, under Col. Marshall, ren- 
dered good service dismounted, acting as light troops on our 

*This 3d Indiana was, on the morning of the 23d, stationed not far in rear of Wash- 
ington's battery, A, save two companies of rifles, who, in command of Major Gorman^ 
fought on the mountain under Col. Marshall. — Major Gorman also had two rifle com- 
panies, of the 2d Indiana. This 3d regiment, under Col. Lane, fought, during the 
day, principally on the left, with the other regiments here engaged, against Pacheco's 
etrong column, and at the last heavy charge, together with the Mississippians and the 
rallied part of the 2d Indiana, moved rapidly to the plateau, D E F, and by their de- 
structive fire hastened the enemy's retreat. The conduct of this regiment was of the 
most spirited character. The repulse of the heavy column of lancers in the morning, 
by these and the Mississippians, was among the most brilliant exploits of this day 
of continued astonishing achievements of valor and constancy. Although much ex- 
posed for the whole day, the loss of the regiment was not very severe ; being nine killed, 
and iilty-six wounded. 



480 CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND TROOPS. 

left, and afterward?, with a portion of the Arkansas regiment 
in meeting and dispersing the column of cavalry at Buena 
V^ista. The 1st and 2d lUinois and the 2d Kentucky regi- 
ments served immediately under my eye, and I bear a wil- 
ling testimony to their excellent conduct throughout the day. 
The spirit and gallantry with which the 1st IlUnois* and 2d 
Kentucky engaged the enemy in the morning restored confi- 
dence to that part of the field, while the list of casualties 
will show how much these three regiments suffered in sus- 
taining the heavy charge of the enemy in the afternoon. — 
Capt. Conner's company of Texas volunteers, attached to 
the 2d Illinois regiment, fought bravely, its captain being 
wounded and two subalterns killed. t Col. Bissell, the only 
surviving colonel of these regiments, merits notice for his 
coolness and bravery on this occasion. After the fall of the 
field officers of the 1st Illinois and 2d Kentucky regiments, 
the command of the former devolved on Lieut. Col. Weather- 
ford, and tliat of the latter on Major Fry. 

" Regimental commanders, and others who have rendered 
reports, speak in general terms of the good conduct of their 
officers and men, and have specified many names ; but the 
limits of this report forbid a recapitulation of them here. I 
may, however, mention Lieuts. Rucker and Campbell of the 
dragoons, and Capt. Pike, of the Arkansas cavalry, upon 

* The coolness and intrepiility of this 1st Illinois, under their heroic colonel, could 
not be excelled. During the night of the 22d, six companies of it, under Col. Har- 
din, occupied the hill, C, and two companies, under Lieut. Col. Weatherford, were sta- 
tioned to the right of A, to protect Washington's battery there. Two other companies 
had been detached, under Major Warren, to hold, with other troops, the possession of 
the city of Saltillo. When Col. Hardin led his command from C, upon the plateau 
D E F, to take a part in the tremendous action there going on, he commenced his 
gallant operations by a spirited charge of bayonets upon a heavy body of the enemy, 
in which — killing and wounding great numbers of them — he drove them in confusion 
back over a deep ravine they had crossed. Though this regiment, like the 2d Illinois 
and 2d Kentucky, with which it fought during the day, was exposed continually to a 
most terrible fire, and many of its men were wounded, yet none were killed until the 
last concentrated effort of the enemy ; but in this, as in the subsequent pursuit, they 
suffered much. They captured the colors of the Mexican corps from the city of San 
Luis Potosi, — Loss of the regiment during the day, 30 killed and 25 wounded. 

■j- The loss of this gallant company of Texans was very severe, in proportion to 
their numbers, being 14 killed, 2 wounded, and 7 missing. Well did the little body 
maintain the reputation of their state throughout the day. 



CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND TROOPS. 481 

whom the command devolved after the fall of Col. Yell ; Ma- 
jor Bradford, Capt. Sharpe, (severely vi^omided), and Adj. 
Griffith, Mississippi regiment ; Lieut. Robinson, aid-de-camp 
to Gen. Lane ; Lieut. Col Weatherford, 1st Illinois regiment; 
Lieut. Col. Morrison, Major Trail, and Adj. Whiteside (se- 
verely wounded) 2d Illinois regiment, and Major Fry, of the 
2d Kentucky regiment, as being favorably noticed for gal- 
lantry and good conduct. Major McCulloch, quartermaster 
in the volunteer service, rendered important services before 
the engagement, in the command of a spy company, and, 
during the affair, was associated with the regular cavalry. — 
To Major Warren, 1st Illinois volunteers, I feel much indebt- 
ed, for his firm and judicious course while exercising com- 
mand in the city of Saltillo. 

" The medical staff, under the able direction of Assistant- 
surgeon Hitchcock, were assiduous in attention to the woun- 
ded upon the field, and in their careful removal to the rear. 
Both in these respects, and in the subsequent oi'ganization 
and service of the hospitals, the administration of this de- 
partment was everything that could be desired. 

" Brig. Gen. Wool speaks in high terms of the officers of his 
staff, and I take pleasure in mentioning them here, having 
witnessed their activity and zeal upon the field. Lieut, and 
Aid-de-camp McDowell, Col. Churchill, inspector general, 
Capt. Chapman, assistant quartermaster, Lieut. Sitgreave.s, 
Topographical Engineers, and Capts. Howard and Davis, 
volunteer service, are conspicuously noticed for their gal- 
lantry and good conduct. Messrs. March, Addicks, Potts, 
Harrison, Burgess and Dusenberg, attached in various ca- 
pacities to Gen. Wool's headquarters, are likewise mentioned 
for their intelligent alacrity in conveying orders to all parts 
of the field. 

" In conclusion, I beg leave to speak of my own staff, to 
whose exertions in rallying troops and communicating orders 
I feel greatly indebted. Major Bliss, assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral, Capt. J. H. Eaton and Lieut. Garnett, aids-de-camp, 
served near my person, and were prompt and zealous in the 
discharge of every duty. Major Munroe, besides rendering 
valuable service as chief of artillery, was active and instru- 
31 



482 CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND TROOPS. 

mental, as were also colonels Churchill and Belknap, inspec- 
tors general, in rallying troops and disposing them for the 
defence of the train and baggage. Col. Whiting, quarter- 
master-general, and Capt. Eaton, chief of the subsistence de- 
partment, were engaged with the duties of their departments, 
and also served in my immediate staff on the field. Capt. 
Sibley, as assistant quartermaster, was necessarily left with 
the headquarter camp near town, where his services were 
highly useful. Major Mansfield and Lieut. Benham, engi- 
neers, and Capt. Linnard and lieutenants Pope and Franklin, 
topographical engineers, were employed before and during 
the engagement in making reconnoissances, and on the field 
were ver}' active in bringing information and in conveying 
my orders to distant points. Lieut. Kingsbury, in addition 
to his proper duties as ordnance officer, Capt. Chilton, assist- 
ant quartermaster, and majors Dix and Coffee, served also 
as extra aids-de-camp, and were actively employed in the 
transmission of orders. Mr. Thomas L. Crittenden, of Ken- 
tucky, though not in service, volunteered as my aid-de-camp 
on this occasion, and served with credit in that capacity. 
Major Craig, chief of ordnance, and Surgeon Craig, medical 
director, had been detached on duty from headquarters, and 
did not reach the ground until the morning of the 24th — too 
late to participate in the action, but in time to render useful 
services in their respective departments of the staff. 

" 1 respcctfally enclose returns of the troops engaged, and 
of casualties incident to the battle. 

" I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't serv't 

" Z. TAYLOR, Maj. Gen. U. S. A. Com'g. 

" To THE Adjutant General of the Army, 
" Washington, D. C." 

And so ended the battle of Buena Vista, in which the vol- 
unteer troops had shown themselves equal to veterans ; — 
and they established the truth, that it is not discipline alone 
that makes the soldier, but that the heroism of the heart, the 
pride of character, the self-reliance, and the love of country 
which the volunteers pre-eminently possessed, are most val- 
uable qualifications on the battle-field. — The loss of these 



MEXICAN COUNCIL OF WAR. 483 

volunteer regiments is given in notes below,* from the offi- 
cial reports. 

Santa Anna, satisfied that he could not conquer Gen. 
Taylor, called a council of war at Agua Nueva, to which he 
had retired after the battle, and it was by that unanimously 
determined to abandon the plan of operations which had 

* MISSISSIPPI IlEGIMENT KILLED AND "WOUNDED. 

Col. Jefltrson Davis was wounded through ihe foot, just below the ankle, while on liorse- 
back, charging upon the enemy. 

WILKIN!-ON COUNTY VOLUNTEERS. 

Killtd — B. G. Pwiberville, Thomas H. Pitley, Wm, H. Wilkinson, Sealiorne Jones. 
Wounded — Lieut. C. Posey, very slightly ; Solomon Nowman, James M. Miller, G. H. 
Jones, W. Spurlock, W. A. Lawrence, J. W. Donnelly, slightly. 

YAZOO VOLUNTEERS. 

Killed — Sergeant W. Ingram, C. C. Sullivan. 

Wounded— Capx. Sharp, Henry Clark, W. H. Stubblefield, severely ; Sergeant D. Hollings- 
•worth, Steph. Stubblefield, R. G. Shooks, slightly ; George Brooks, mortally. 

RAYMOND FENCIBLES. 

A'i7;«d— Lieut. F. McNulty. J. S. Bond, J. N. Graves, W. Seay, R. E. Parr, J. M. Alexander, 
R. Feltz, G. A. Cooper. 

Wounded — R. S. Edwards, severely ; J. Hammond, P. Rurrett, P. Sinclair, W. G. Harrison, 
H. A. Neely, slightly. 

STATK FENCIBLES. 

Killed — Sergeants Wm. Philips and James Langford, corporals Frank Robinson and Joseph 
Revell, Robert Jayce, William Sellers. 

Wounded — Ricliard Clauds, A. Puckett, severely ; John Kennedy, Isham C. Lord, Robert 
Fox, James Waugh, slightly. 

MARSHALL GUARDS. 

Killed — Sergeant G. Anderson, Henry Trotter, John S. Branch, A. Collingsworth, John 
Peace. 

Wounded — Sergeant P. Martin, John Hedthpeth, severely ; T. O. McClanahaii, T. D. Ran- 
dolph, John Bass, slightly. 

VICKSBURG SOUTHERNERS. 

Killed — Wm. Couch, Richard Eggleston, James Johnson, John Preston. 
Wounded — Sergeant Howard Morris, James W. Conn, severely ; Sergeant Wm. A. Scott, 
Corporal J. McLaughlin, Samuel C. Suit. J. N. Collier, John Barnes, L. H. Stevens. 

VICKSBURS VOLUNTEERS. 

Killed — Lieut. R. G. Mooned, Fletcher Harpison, P. Raridon, Jacob Block. 
Wounded — Thomas White, dangerously ; Wm. AVinans, S. Edwards, Henry Lowell, se- 
verely; Dr. S. D. Carson, A. Henman, slightly. 

LAFAYETTE COMPANY. 

Killed — Sergeant B. Hagan, Corporals James Blakeley and M. Butler, Stephen Jones, Enos 
Garrett, P. Doniphan. 

Woii7ided — James Bigley, arm lost; J. G. Simpson, Wm. Courtney, James W. Morriss, se- 
verely; liiout. J. P. Stepford, J. F. Malone, slightly. 

The Tombigbee and Carroll Companies were left in charge of the camp. 

RECAPITULATION. Killed. Wounded. 
Wilkinson county volunteers 5 7 

Yazoo county volunteers 2 7 

Raymond Fenciblos 8 6 

Slate Fenoibles 6 6 

Mar.'^hall Guards 6 5 

Vicksburg Southerners 4 8 

Vieksburg Volunteers 5 6 

Lafayette Company C 6 

Total, 42 5L 



484 RETREAT OF GEN. SANTA ANNA. 

been commenced, and retreat to the south and towards San 
Luis Potosi ; which was immediately done, not, however, 
until an exchange of prisoners had been effected. 

Leaving that general, with his shattered and disorganized 
army, marching back, let us for a moment turn to the opera- 
tions of Gen. Urrea, who, as before stated, had been sent up 

KENTUCKIANS KILLED AND WOUNDED. 

KENTUCKY CAVALRY. — KILLED. 

Adjutant— E. M. Vaughan. 

LillanVs company — Sergeant D. J.Lillard ; privates Lewis Sander and A. J. Martin. 

Price's compcuiij — Privates J. D. Miller, B. Warren. 

Milani's company — Privates J. Leston, John Sander, John Ellingwood. 

Shawhan's co7npany — Corporal J. A. Jones; privates D. P. Rogers, W. McClintock, J. 
Pomeroy. 

BearcVs company— FTiyaies A. G. Morgan, C. Jones, Wm. Twaits, N. Ranney, U. Carty, 
and W. AV. Bates, corporal. 

Pennington's company — Privates H. Danforth, J. G. Martin, E. Rouston, J. M. Rowlin, John 
Ross, E. F. Lilley. 

Clayh company — Private Thomas AVeyest. 

Heady''s company — Private C. B. Thompson. 

MarshaWs compatiy — Private C. B. Demit 

Commissioned officer, 1 ; non-commissioned officers, 3 ; privates, 25 — total 29. 

WOUNDED. 

Captain — John Shawhan. 

Shau'han^s company — Privates Wm. Snodgrass, J. S. Byram, W. C. Parker, J. M. Van- 
hook, George H. Wilson, James AVarlbrd, C. H. Fowler. 

Heady^s compatiy — 2d Lieut. J. H. Merrifield, Sergeant S. Marratin. 

Clay's company — 2d Lieut. J. M. Brown, Corporal. James Scooley. 

Price^s company — 2d Lieut. Thomas Conn, privates John H. Cleverlan, Samuel Evan, Joseph 
Murphy and Will Herndon. 

i?7/ard's company — Privates John AValker, B. Spencer, E. W. Ruson, and Thos. Scandclt 

Milam^s company — John Reddish, B. F. Price, J. K. Goodloe. 

Pennington^s company — Privates J. S. Jackson, Thomas Brown, L. Help. 

Marshairs company — Private H. E. Brady. 

Beard^s company — Privates Charles Sheppard. J. Sheppard, M. B. Callahan, Lerasay. 

Commissioned officers, 4 ; noncommissioned officers, 2 . privates 26. — Total, 32. 

SECOND KENTUCKY INFANTRY. — KILLED. 

Col. Wm. R. McKee, Lieut. Col Henry Clay, Jr. 

Company A, MssseV— Privates Whitfield Smith, A B. Crondowens. 

Company B, Chambers^s — 4th Sergeant Henry Wolf; Privates Maj. Updike, Wm. Black 
well, L. B. Bartlett. 

Company C, Thompson''s— 1st Sergeant S.M.Williams. Privates Robert M. Baker, W 
Booth, Wm. Burks, John Moffit. 

Company D, Fry''s — 4th Corporal Peter Trough. Privates Joseph AValden, Harvey Jones, 
Wm. llarman. 

Company E, Cutter's — 1st Corporal J. Q. Carlan ; Drummer, Martin Raudebaugh. Privates 
Hiram Frazer, John H. Harkins, Richard McCurdy, Hercules Snow. 

Company F, Wiltis's—CapX. W. T. Willis. Private Harry Trotter. 

Company G, Dai<§^Aer(i/'5— Privates John A.Gregory, Joseph R. Ballard, Willis Vest, Jesse 
J. Waller. 

Company H, Joyner's—2il Sergeant Joseph King, 3d Sergeant John M. Dunlop. Privates 
AVm. Rhann, John Williams. 

Company I, Turpin's—lsl Sergeant Henry Edwards. Privates John J. Torron, Abram 
Goodpaster. 

Company K, McBrey's — Privates Jas. Layton, AVm. Brand, James Johnson, David Davis, 
Arthur Thacker, John W. Watson, Wm. P. Reynolds 



OPERATIONS OF GEN. URREA. 485 

on the east side of the mountains, to attack the American 
forces near the valley of the Rio Grande, and to act in the 
anticipated pursuit of the routed Americans of Gen. Taylor's 
army. 

Gen. Urrea reached the main road from Monterey to Ca- 
margo, near Marin, about the 22d instant, and joining forces 

ILUJfOISANS KILLED ANB WOUNDED. 

SECOND KENTUCKY INFANTRY. — WOUNDED. 

Company A — 2d Lieut. E. L. Barber, slightly; Sergeant John Minton, do. Privates Elza 
Morris, Samuel Wallace, Robert Winloek and James Barnett, all slightly. 

Company B — 1st Corporal Sandford Mayhall, mortally; private Benjamin O. Branham, se- 
verely; James Williams, W. S. Barllett and Ameal Brea. slightly. 

Company C — Adj. 2d Lieut. Wm. T. Withers, severely; 3d Corporal C. C. Sneadlay, slight- 
ly; 3d Sergeant John Wheatley, do.; privates Edward Benton, James Cahill, John Crawford 
and Marion Davidson, slightly ; Woodson Ilendron, mortally ; W. D. Purcell, slightly. 

Company D — 2d Corporal J. Craig, slightly; privates H. Burditt, mortally; P. Hambleton, 
Allen S. Montgomery and Henry Vanfleet, severely. 

Company E — 4lh Corporal John Jennison, privates Thomas Welch and John S. Vandiver, 
severely ; privates Jasper Honk, Wm. Park, David Walker and Isaac Yelton, slightly. 

Company F — Privates John Hunter, severely ; Thomas J. Bruner, slightly. 

Ccjnpany G — Ass't Adj. 2d Lieut. Thomas W. Napier and privates Wm. Stinger and Thos. 
Hughes, severely; M. A. Devanport, slightly. 

Company H — Sergeant J. Ward, mortally ; Corporal II. Craig, slightly ; privates F. Oak, 
mortally; F. Fox, Wm. Dalley, R. Holden, J. Willington and G. Simmons, slightly. 

Company /—Privates J. Redmon, E. McCuUoh and W. Blowett, slightly ; E. S. Cahill, 
mortally. 

Company K — Sergeant W. Lilliard, severely ; privates B. Perry, do.; W. Waford, mortally; 
G. Leavy, W. Howard and J. Montgomery, slightly. 

Missing. — Private Jackson Catlett. 

Recapitulation. — Staff, 2; killed, 42; wounded, 57; missing, 1. — Total, 102. 

GRAND TOTAL. 

Killed and wounded in cavalry regiment 61 

" " 2dinfanlry '= 102 

Kentuckians killed and wounded at Buena Vista 163 

first regiment of ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 

Killed — Colonel: John J. Hardin. Captain: Jacob W. Zabriskie. First Lieutenant : Bryan 
R.Houghton. Principal Musician : Austin W. Fay. Privates: company B, Francis Carter; 
company C, Merrit Hudson ; company D, Augustus Canaught, John Emerson ; company 
E, Silas Bedell, Henry H. Clark, William Goodwin, James J. Kinman, Randolph R. Mar- 
tin, Greenbury S. Richardson, Samuel W. Thompson, Charles Walker; company H. Elias C. 
Mays, Matthew Dandy, William Smith, Thomas J. Gilbert, John White; company K,John B. 
Bacliman, Ingharat Claibsottle, Conrad Burrh, John Gable, Aaron Kicrsted, Joseph Shutt, 
William Vankleharker, George Pitson. 

Wounded — Privates: company D, Michael Fenton, badly ; Jas. T. Edson. slightly , Francis 
Quinn, slightly ; Potter Clemens, slightly. Company C, Corporal : Patrick Mehan, badly. Pri- 
vate: Jas. Robins, slightly. Company D, Sergeant: John C. Barr, badly. Private: Albert 
Kershaw, badly; company E, Watson R. Richardson, badly; AVilliam Stevenson, badly; 
company F, Job Brown, slightly. Second Lieutenant : Hezekiah Evans, slightly. Company 
H, privates: Jackson Evans, slightly; AViUiam Roe, slightly; Daniel Penser, badly; com- 
pany K. Geo. Slack, slightly ; Frederick Rekow, badly. First Lieutenant : John L. McCon- 
nell. slightly. Privates: Robins, slightly, serving with company B, 4lh artillery, Washing- 
Ion's battery; Brown, slightly, do., Richardson, do.; Ralco, do.; Duff, do.; McLean, do. 
rhillip.s, do. 



480 CAPTURE OF WAGON TRAIN BY CANALES AND URREA. 

with the notorious Canales, attacked a wagon train of one 
hundred and ten wagons, loaded with provisions, &c., for the 
arm}^ ; and some three hundred pack mules, belonging to 
merchants. The detachment, of about thirty Kentuckians, 
under Lieut. Barbour, who guarded this train, were surround- 
ed by numbers and taken prisoners; the train was captured, 

INDIANIANS KILLED ANK WOUNDED. 

SECOND REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEEKS. 

Killed — Captain : Woodward. LieulenaiUs : A. B. Rounlree, Fletcher, Ferguson, Robbins, 
■Steel, T. Kelley, Barlleson, Atherton, Price. Privates: company A, William Kenyon ; Wil- 
liam L. Smith. Corporal: company C, Hibl)s. Privates: Woodling, Patton, Tlierman, Mc- 
Michel ; company E, Gable ; D. O'Conner ; company H, Lortz ; Couze, Cruesman, Schoolcraft ; 
company I, Lear, Davis, Cook, Bradley, McCrury, G. Clark, Hogan, Squires ; company K, Ab- 
ernathy, W. M. Jones, Bonner, Kinsey, S. C. Marlow, Robert Marlow, Wilkes, Ragland, W. 
S.Jones; company G, Jenkins, Hill. Company B, First Sergeant: Faysoui. Private*: Em- 
merson, Kizer, Durock, Crippen. 

Wounded — Captains : Coffee, Baker. Lieutenants : company B, John A. Pickett, Engle- 
man, West. Adjutant: Whiteside. Sergeant: company A, J. W. Farmer. Privates: Aul- 
dridge, Bnrnet, Bird, Cooper, Cheek, Dempsey, Hutchings, J. T. Lee, Mansker, Pate, G. W. 
Rainy, Robins, White. Sergeant : company C. Brown. Privates : Burke, Bryant, Clarage, 
Early, Feake, Foills, Fletcher, J. N. Nolland, Montgomery, RicWetts, Maiwell, II. C. Smith, 
Van Camp, Dwyer, Tidd, Fisher; company E, Hill, Riley, Robinson, AVriglit ; company II, 
Bordaux, Irndges, Felameir, Funk, Gerhard, Ledergerber, Ranneberg, Talbot, Traenkle, Upp- 
man. First Sergeant : company I, Reid. Privates: Henkler, White, Murmert, Fisher, Kell, 
Strong, MeMurty, Warcheim, Hiltonan; company K, G. T. Montage, Hamilton, Hoge, Kel- 
ley, R. Marlow, John Ragland, N. Ramsey ; company G, Wiley, McLain ; company B, Scott, 
Goodale. Quartermaster Sergeant : Buckmaster. Sergeant Major : Ketter. 

Missing — Privates: company H, Mellen, Sinsel ; company G, Messinger. 

COMPANY TEXAS VOLUNTEERS. 

Killed — First Lieutenant: Campbell. Second Lieutenant : Leonard. Corporals: Voort and 
King. Privates : Clark, Donovan, Donohoe, Forche, Hazes, Godrin, Finney, McLean, Klinge 
and Lagston. 

Woutided — Captain : Conner. Private : Freaekind. 

Missing — Sergeant : Donop. Corporal : Brand. Privates : Gillerman, Bruno, Miller, Smith 
and Larlg. 

INDIANA VOLUNTEERS — BRIGADE STAFF. 

Wounded — Brig. Gen. Joseph Lane, slightly. 

SECOND REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEEKS. 

Killed— Capta. T. B. Kinder and Wm. Walker; 2d Lieut. Thomas C. Parr; Sergean. 
Mc Henry Dozier, company E; Privates Francis Bailey, Chas. H. Goff, AV'arren Robinson, and 
A. Stephens, company A ; John Shoultz, J. Lafferty, A. Massey, D. McDonald, and J. T. 
Hardin, company B; M. Lee, W. Richardson, and J. II. Sladen, company D; W. Akin, and 
J. B. D. Dillon, company E; II. Matthews and J. H. Wilson, company F; H. Draper, R Jen- 
liins, and T. Price, company H ; R. Havrilt, and H. M. Campbell, company I ; J. C. Hig- 
ginbotham, A. Jenkins, G. Chapman, O. Lansburg, E. Wyatt, T. Smith, and J. Teasley, 
company K. 

Wounded — Capts. W.Ii. Sanderson and John Osborn, both slightly ; 1st Lieuts. S. W. Cayce, 
and J. Davis, both slightly ; 2d Lieuts. H. Pennington, D. S. Lewis, J. Moore, and J. A. Epper- 
son, all slightly ; Sergeants A. II. Potts, company D, J. Carathers and V. Vestal, company F, 
and P. D. Kelse, company G, all slightly ; Corporals E. Macdonald, company B, and D. C. 
Thomas, company D, both badly; Corporals A. B. Carlton, N. B. Stevens, and J. Bishop, com- 
pany F, all slightly ; Corporals T. Rawlins, company G, sliglitly, niul II. Wilson, company H, 
severely; Musician A. M.Woods, company D, slightly ; Sergeant E. Blalock, company G, 
■badly ; Private T. Goen, company F, slightly ; H. Mulvany, M. Queen, and J. McMilton, com- 
pany G, all slightly; W. Adams, W. Benefiel, R. Colbert, and V. Swain, company H, all 
severely; J. Ingle, A. Smith, and W. D. Wier, company H, slightly ; N. Rumley, company 
i, badly ; G. McKuight and G. Wilhart, company K, slightly ; A. C. Farris, company K, badly. 



CRREA^S ATTACK ON SECOND OHIO REGIMENT. 487 

fifty of the teamsters massacred, and the wagons burnt; the 
remainder of the wagoners escaping to the mountains. 

On the 23d, Urrea attacked Lieut. Col. Irvin's command, 
of 2d Ohioans, at Marin, but retired from before the town on 
the morning of the 25th on the approach of jMaj. vShepherd, 
from Monterey, with three companies of the tirst Kentucky 

ARKANSAS TllOOPS KILLED ANIJ WOUNIJEl). 
Missing — Privates J. Brown and J. H. Uarrison, company B; AV. Spaklinj, company D- 
B. Hubbard, company I. 

THIRD REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. 

Jj:i7/frf— Capl. J. Tnggart ; rrivatcs, company A, J. M. Buskirk, AV. B. I Tolland, D. J. Stout ; 
company C. J. Armstrong ; company D, W. Hueslon ; company F, D. Owens and W. C. 
Good; company Ci, J. Graliam. 

Wounded — Major W. A. Gorman, slightly; Capts. J. M. Sleep and V. Conover, slightly ; 
Corporal R. K. Nelson, company A, slightly ; Privates, company A. J. S. Levo, severely, W. 
G. Applegate, J. Y. Davis, J. W. Pullini, and J. Knight, slightly; Corporal J. Gringrich, com- 
pany B. slightly; privates, J. Faulkner, dangerously II. Hind, jr., H. C. Hoyt, D. Conroy, and 
T. H Bowen, slightly ; company C, J. Voight, dangerously, P. Lain, M. Cole, F. Aubke, A. 
Armstrong, J. Orchard, and G. Miller, slightly ; Corporal R. Torrance, company D, slightly; 
privates T. Gustin, severely, J. Hinkle, J. Rochat, E. Bright, and A. Merrill, slightly; Cor- 
poral E. Weddel, company E, severely; privates, J. Brown, and M. Mathis, severely, S. Fred, 
J. G. Arter, and S. Stuart, slightly; company F, J. C. Burton, seriously, O. Dyer, J Inskeep, 
D. Hunter, D. Coughonowcr, H. C. Riker, and Corporal J. S. Wilson, slightly; company G, 
J. Meek, seriously, E. Mace, J. Patterson, and J. Cain, slightly ; company H, R. Benson, and 
J. Kelley, severely ; Sergt. W. Coombes, company I, mortally ; private M. Cojiaway, slightly ; 
Sergts. R. McGarvey, company K, severely, S. P. Turney, slightly ; privates J. Hervey, seri- 
ously, M. Gray and V. Foster, slightly, S. Bradley and S. LefoUet, severely. 

ARKANSAS CAVALRY. 

Killed— Co\. Archibald Yell ; Capt. Andrew R. Porter; Corporals R. M. Sanders, W. Gom- 
berlin, and D. Stewart ; privates Wm. Phipps, H. Penter, J. H. Higgins, G. W. Martin.J B. 
Pelham, J. Ray, W. Robinson, D. Hogan, P. Williams, A. Teague, H. Wynn, and T. C. 
Rowland. 

Wounded — 1st Lieut. Thos. A. Reader ; Sergeant-major B. F. Ross; Sergeants J. D. Adams, 
slightly, G. Y. Latham, Z. D. Cogard, and H. L. Hamilton; Corporal M. L. Poplin ; privates 
M Kelley, B. F. Nicholson, W. B. Searcy, Jo.seph Penter, C. Taylor, L. McGruder, J. F. 
Allen, M. Graham, D. Logan, A. C. Harris, J. Wilmouth, Franklin W. Brown, O. Jones, 
slightly, E. McCool, J. Williams, L. B. Beckwith, J. Ray, L. A. Twrouski, AV. Turner; J 
Biggcrstaff, W. Gibson, R. Arnold, and J. Lowallen, slightly ; J. Johnson, and C. Sullivan. 

Missing — Privates L. Settle, Jos. Green, George Norwood, and M. Parker. 

REGULARS — GENERAL STAFF. 

Killed — Capt. Geo. Lincoln, Assistant Adjutant General. 

Wuitnded — Fir.st Lieut. Henry W. Benham, Engineers, and Bvt 2d Lieut. Francis T. Bryan, 
Topograi)hical Engineers, slightly. 

FIRST REGIMENT DRAGOONS. 

Wounded — Capt. Enoch Steen, severely ; privates, company E, Holloway and Anderson, 
severely, and Sherrod, slightly ; company A, Lanning and Sweet, sevorelyj and Waggoner, 
slightly. 

SECOND REGIMENT DRAGOONS. 

Wounded— iiyt. Lieut. Col. C. A. May, severe contusion ; private W. F. Erbe, company E, 
severely. 

THIRD REGIMENT ARTILLERY. 

Killed — Private Christian F. W.ilhingcr, company C. 

iroundfd— Sec. Lieut. Samuel G.French, severely; company C, Corporal Robert Gams, 
severely, privates Wm. Uud.son, severely, Jacob Weyer. slightly ; recruit Jesse Gormer, 3d 
infantry; company E, Ord. Sergt. Bowning slightly. Corporals Wolt' and Boyle, severely, 
Tischer, musician, supposed mortally, Livingood, artificer, severely, privates Bell, danger 



488 GEN. URREA'S ATTACK ON COL. MORGAN'S COMMAND. 

regiment, under captains Triplctt, Ballon, and Kearn, two 
companies of the first Ohio regiment, under captains Bradley 
and Vandever, and a detachment of Kentucky cavalry, under 
Lieut. Patterson, with two pieces of artillery, who came to 
the relief of Col. Irvin, and the reinforced detachment re- 
turned towards Monterey. 

On the 26th, Urrea, attacked Col. Morgan, of the second 
Ohio regiment, who, with two hundred men, was also going 
on to Monterey, where, all the troops that could be spared 
from the various garrisons in the valley of the Rio Grande 
were ordered to concentrate. — This attack was made with 
vigor, and kept up with spirit. Lieut. Stewart gallantly 
dashed forward, through the enemy, and overtook Lieut. Col. 
Irvin, who immediately turned back with two companies, — 
Capt. Bradley, first Ohio, and Capt. Kearn, first Kentucky, — 
and the action terminated in the repulse of Urrea, with a 
loss of about sixty. American loss, four killed, and a few 
wounded. Among the killed was Capt. B. F. Graham. 

After this, on Sunday, March 7th, Gen. Urrea with one 

KECiULAIlS KILLED AND ■WOUNDED. 

ously, Fisk, Kemp, McCray, Levier, Kollislier, and Gillam, slightly, Smith and Kelsey, 
severely, Shane, mortally, McDonnell, dangerously. 
Missing — Privates Marcus A. Hitchcock, company 0, Youngs and Morgan, company E. 

FOtlRTH KEGIMENT ARTILLERY. 

Killed — Company B; privates HoUey, Weekly, Kinks, and Doughty ; Green, recruit, 3d 
infantry. 

. Wounded — First Lieut. J. P. J. O'Brien, slightly; company B, Sergt. Queen, and Lance 
Sergt. Pratt, slightly ; privates Puffer, mortally, Hannams, Beagle, Berrier, Floyd, Baker^ 
Tharman, Brown, Birch, Butler, and Clark. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Killed. IVmmdfd. Missing. Total. 

Volunteers — 1st Mississippi Rifles 21 51 93 

1st Illinois 30 25 55 

2d Illinois 47 74 3 12-1 

Company Texas 14 2 ■■• 7 23 

Indiana — General Staff 1 1 

2d Indiana 32 3G • • 4 72 

3d Indiana 9 56 65 

2d Kentucky Foot 44 57 1 102 

Ken icky Cavalry 29 32 61 

Arka as Cavalry 17 32 4 53 

Regulars— General Staffs 1 2 3 

1st Dragoons 7 7 

2d Dragoons 2 2 

3d Artillery 1 21 3 25 

4th Artillery 5 15 20 

Total Volunteers, killed, wounded, and missing 649 

Total Regulars, killed, wounded, and missing 57 

Grand Total of killed, wounded, and missing 70G 



URREA'S ACTION WITH MAJOR GIDDINGS' COMMAND. 489 

thousand six hundred men attacked, near Ceralvo, the detach- 
ment of Major Giddings, first Ohio, who, with a force con- 
sisting of three companies first Ohio, under captains Bradley, 
Armstrong and Kenneally, two companies of first Kentucky 
regiment, under captains Howe and Fuller, and a body of 
Arkansas cavalry, under Lieut. Thompson, with two pieces 
artillery, under Lieut. McCarter, — in all two hundred and 
sixty men, — was escorting a train of one hundred and fifty 
wagons, and also the bearers of Gen. Taylor's dispatches, 
from Monterey to Camargo. — The attack was made with 
vigor by a much superior force," and was continued for two 
or three hours before Urrea was repulsed. — From the great 
length of the train, the enemy were enabled to entirely sur- 
round the rear-guard, and summon them to surrender ; but 
this summons was disregarded.-^Urrea was repulsed, with a 
loss of forty-five killed and wounded. Loss of the detach- 
ment, seventeen killed, and forty wagons taken. — (The mules 
becoming alarmed at the firing, were unmanageable, and 
rushed in among the Mexican forces on either hand ; hence 
their loss). — Major Giddings, the morning after this gallant ac- 
tion, entered Ceralvo, — and, for the want of ammunition, his 
ammunition w^agon having been one of those that the fright- 
ened mules carried among the Mexicans, and which had been 
set on fire by them, was compelled to wait until the 12th, 
when Col. Curtis, at the head of near twelve hundred men, 
the 3d Ohio regiment, and a part of the new Virginia regi- 
ment, came up from Camargo, by whom he was supplied, 
and resumed his march. 

Col. Curtis continued on towards Monterey ; came in sight 
of the enemy ; halted, and prepared for battle. But at this 
time Old Zach. himself was coming down the road from 
Monterey, with the dragoons, Kentucky cavalry and Bragg's 
battery. Urrea found himself in an unpl(i7)-sant situation, 
and immediately retreated to the southward by the route he 
had come. 

If Col. Curtis had not halted, he w^ould have forced Urrea 
to have fought either with him or with Gen. Taylor ; but of 
that he was not aware at the time, and knowing Urrea's 
force to be some three thousand men, he wished to be fully 



490 RETREAT OF GEN. URREA. 

prepared. With Urrea's retreat, the valley of the Rio Grande 
was again free from the enemy. 

Santa Anna continued his retreat to San Luis, thence to 
the city of Mexico, having induced the population to believe 
that he had gained a great victory over Gen. Taylor. He 
found the principal parties in Mexico engaged in another 
revolution. — He stopped this ; united all ; roused their enthu- 
siasm, and that of his army, and great rejoicings took place 
throughout all Mexico on account of his victory. 

Having now given an account of all the fighting that had 
taken place in the winter, we will close the chapter and 
again return to Tampico, where, at the end of chapter X, we 
left the troops of Gen. Scott embarking for Vera Cruz ; and 
with the embarkation of our regiment, we will commence 
chapter XII, ending this only with the remark, that proposi- 
tions of peace, in the meantime, had again been made by the 
United States' government, through Senor Atocha, and re- 
jected by the Mexican. Senor Atocha had been conveyed to 
Vera Cruz, in the revenue cutter Forward ; had landed under 
cover of a flag of truce, on February 9th ; he proceeded directly 
to the city of Mexico with his dispatches ; arrived there on 
the 13th, and laid them before the Mexican government. — 
He was, on the next day, ordered to leave the city, and, near 
Jalapa, to await a reply ; which, in a few days, was sent to 
him, being a decided negative. — He left Vera Cruz on the 
26th, and embarking again on the Forward, hastened back 
to Washington. 

I^isl of the troops of Santa Anna's array, as they left Sun Ltiis Potosi, to attack Gen. Tay^ 
lor. as given in the Mexican journals of the day : — 

January 26, 1S^7 — the Sappers and Artillerists, with 19 guns of heavy calibre- 650 
January 29 — 1st, 3il, 4lh, 5lh, 10th and 11th regiments of the line, and 1st and 2d 

light troops 6,240 

January 31 — 4lh liglit Iroops, mixed, of Santa Anna, 1st Active of Celaya, do. of 

Guadalajara, do. of I<agos, do. of Queretaro, do. of Mexico 3.200 

Total, departed from San I-uis 10,090 

Troops which Gen. Parrodi conducted from Tula, with three pieces of heavy 

calibre, with their munitions 1,000 

Cavalry on the march 0,000 

Artillery" " " 250 

Division under Gen. Mejia 4,000 

Grand total of troops sent against Gen. Taylor 21,340 



CHAPTER XII. 

March 8th, Nothing of interest had occurred during the 
few days that we have dropped the regular accounts of the 
journal. Some of the regulars, induced by the promises of 
the Mexicans, had deserted, and also one of our men had 
done the same. This scamp's name was Hill.— He joined the 
regiment at Matamoras, and was a member of Capt. Good- 
now's company. He has been mentioned before, in this 
work, as an interpreter. He was thought by many to be the 
same Hill who is so highly spoken of by Waddy Thompson 
as favored by Santa Anna.* Capt. Newman's company, of 
our regiment, had made a scout into the interior, beyond Al- 
tamira, after these deserters, and overtaken four of them, be- 
longing to the artillery, bringing them back to town, where 
they were confined for trial. 

The force designated to remain as the garrison of Tam- 
pico, was composed of part of the Louisiana regiment, sta- 
tioned at the fortifications at the upper part of town, near the 
military hospital, and the Baltimore battalion, which was at 
the lower part, at the canal bridge, and three companies of 
regular artillery, near the Plaza. The troops of the differ- 

* There was something mysterious about this young man from llie first. He was 

• always anxious to obtain information with respect to the troops, and at every town he 
made an immediate acquaintance with the alcaldes, which his intimate Ivnowlcdge of 
the Spanish language enabled him to do. — In his unguarded moments he had com- 
municated, from time to time, the facts that he had for many years resided in Mexico ; 

• that a wealthy Don had adopted him for a son ; that he had resided at the cities of 
Mexico, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi ; and his general conduct left no doubt, after he 
had deserted, that he had been with us only as a spy. — He wore off an officer's coat, 
thus making it appear to his former friends, the Mexicans, that he had held an office 
with us ; and we afterwards heard that Santa Anna, on his return, gave him a cap- 
taincy. 

(491) 



492 EMBARKATION OF THE REGIMEi\T. 

ent brigades had been leaving as fast as vessels arrived, and 
now it was our turn, though as the horse transports had not 
come, we were to go as foot soldiers. 

March 9ih. This was a busy day with our regiment. In 
the morning, early, the bugles called each company into 
line ; the rolls were run over, and eight men were selected 
from each company to remain with, take care of, and accom- 
pany the horses when they should be embarked ; — the re- 
mainder were ordered to put up their saddles, bridles, horse- 
blankets, sabres and holster pistols securely, and mark them, 
to be placed in boxes and sent with the horses. — Each man 
of the regiment took with him his rifle, or carbine, and car- 
tridge-box, only. 

Breakfast was soon over, and now came much prepara- 
tion ; much inquiry for the men detailed to remain ; each re- 
questing and imploring these to take good care of their horses 
left behind ; their long-tried steeds, who, for thousands of 
miles, had safely borne them thus far in the campaign. 

At ten, A. M., the companies were formed, the tents were 
struck, and with our little baggage, we took our march into 
town. Arriving there, we remained in the square by the 
market a few moments only, and then marched down to the 
wharf and entered the surf boats prepared for embarking and 
disembarking the troops; — each boat would carry sixty men.* 
These were then rowed off to the steamboats, that lay ready 
to receive us. The first battalion was soon on board, crowd- 
ed and jammed together. The one that company G was on 
was a propeller, and moved along slowly, though with much 
puffing and noise. — Both boats got up steam, and started 
down the river together. 

We soon came opposite to our camp ; the crowd of horses 
was there, though but few tents were left — only those for the 
men remaining. These collected together in groups on the 
shore, and raised a shout as we passed, which we returned ; 
— every man looked for his own horse on the bank, and 
gazed at him, as on we passed for the bar. — The other boat 

* These were sent from the United States, especially to embark and disembark the 
tioops ; — were of peculiar construction, and very large. — For view of one, see frontis- 
piece, " canal in castle." 



SCENE ON BOARD THE SHIP. 493 

passed us on the river, and got out much before us; and 
while she was making her way to the distant ships, that 
lay far out, almost on the very horizon, Vve only had come 
near the bar, and began to feel the waves a little as they 
rocked us. In a short time Vv'e were over it, and our little 
steamer, puffing and blowing, rolled and pitched in the break- 
ers, and many of the men, Mdio were crowded so thickly upon 
her decks, became dizzy with the motion, and their faces 
were pale with sea-sickness, while they held on to the rig- 
ging. — Our vessel made more noise than ever, but went so 
slow, that how she had ever reached the coast of Mexico, 
became a wonder to us. 

The other steamer had all the men she carried, with their 
baggage, on the ship before we came near her, and had 
commenced the return ; but in half an hour we came up 
also, near to her as she lay at anchor. She was the Essex, 
of Boston, a noble vessel, of eight hundred tons burden. She 
was high above the water ; — her lofty masts and lengthy 
spars were in perfect trim and order ; her numerous ropes 
were drawn in straight lines. She had been freshly painted 
without, and her color was bright. She rolled gently at her 
heavy anchors, in the swell that came in from the Gulf. Our 
little steamer came along side of her, and made fast, and 
the men commenced climbing up her sides. — The baggage 
and arms were passed up, and in half an hour everything 
was on board, and the crowd of men were looking strangely 
at every object around them, not knowing which way to 
move. 

The sailors of the ship were engaged in getting the bag- 
gage and arms down on the lower deck, and in showing our 
men their berths, all arranged for them; but many were so 
confused with the strange scene around them, the long roll- 
ing of the ship, and the busy movements of the seamen, 
that they found all their baggage removed and piled up 
below, before they were aware of it. The ammunition was 
placed in the magazine, the deck cleared up, and everything 
put in order. There were four companies of us now on this 
ship, with their officers, the remaining company of the first 
battalion, Caswell's, having gone before. The second bat 



494 SEA-SICKNESS OF THE SOLDIERS. 

talion went on board the ship Desdemona, lying about a mile 
from the Essex. Four other ships lay at anchor within a 
mile around, having on board tke 4th and most of the 3d 
Illinois regiments. 

March 9th. Last night, the ship rolled heavily on the 
waves ; and it was difficult for our men, crowded together, 
to pass one another, up and down the hatchway ladders, or 
to walk the unsteady foundation, either on the upper or 
lower deck. They turned pale and sick, especially below, 
where their heads were rendered giddy, by seeing every- 
thing, apparently, move around them. Blankets were thickly 
spread on the upper deck, each with an occupant, vomiting, 
and thinking he was about to die. — "When offered break- 
fast, they refused it, with a shake of the head, indicating ex- 
treme disgust. They wished themselves on land ; and would, 
when up, lean on the bulwarks, and gaze most wishfully on 
the low coast they had left, and which was visible in the 
distance. — The other ships, in the offing, were rolling and 
pitching in the same way ; and on looking at them with 
a spy-glass, we saw many on their crowded decks, leaning 
over the bulwarks, and " casting up their accounts." — Sea- 
sickness is most unpleasant, and many think they will surely 
die from it. — One man on board was declaring, last night, 
that he could not possibly live till morning ; but still he is 
alive, and a little better. It never killed any one yet ; but, 
on the contrary, is said to be highly beneficial. 

The steamboats have been bringing off, this forenoon, the 
second battalion of our regiment, to the ship Desdemona, 
mentioned yesterday. Col. Thomas and Major Waterhouse 
are with them ; while Lieut. Col. Allison is in command of 
us ; though, at the present time he cannot command him- 
self, being laid up in his state-room with sea-sickness. 

The day was calm until noon, when a little breeze from 
the south-east sprang up ; and to our gratification, the cap- 
tain of the ship gave the order to heave up the anchor. — 
"Man the windlass!" shouted the first officer of the ship, a 
burly, weather-beaten, humorous-looking, old sea-fowl, with 
a voice like a speaking-trumpet. "Man the windlass!" 
shouted the second officer, a younger tar, as he heard the 



GETTING "UNDER WEIGH." 495 

order. — "Aye, aye, sir," "aye, aye, sir," answered the sea- 
men, as they seized their handspikes, and jumped to it ; and 
it was soon slowly revolving, bringing in the heavy chain 
cable, the clanking of which on the deck was pleasant to us 
all, for it told us that we were about to proceed to sea. 

Soon the ponderous anchor was broken from its hold on 
the bottom ; then came the orders, "Hoist the jib !" "loose 
the top-sails !" and while some of the seamen did the first, 
others ran nimbly up the shrouds, and soon sail after sail, 
above and below, were hoisted, sheeted out, and exposed 
their wide surface to the breeze, which filled them ; and the 
large ship, under her press of canvass, leaned over to the 
wind, and gathered way through the billows, which broke 
and parted at her bows. The anchor was now brought up 
to its place, and we stood out to sea. — The decks were cleared 
up ; the loose ropes, that had been used in " getting her un- 
der weigh" (as the sailor's term is, for raising the anchor, 
spreading the sails, and putting the ship in motion to the 
breeze), were coiled up. The seamen took their stations, 
and all was at once reduced to the sea regulations, of order, 
form, and discipline. 

Two of the other ships got under weigh, at the same time. 
The ship Sharon was a little later than ourselves, in getting 
her anchor up ; and as we passed her, the troops, with which 
she was crowded, gave us three cheers, to which we heartily 
responded. 

In an hour we had lost sight of the land, and the scene was 
but the blue of the sky above, and the darker blue of the 
water below and around. — The waves now were larger, and 
the ship rolled more ; and many that had hitherto been well, 
became sea-sick, and came up on deck, unable, from their 
giddiness, to remain below. Those who were sick at the 
anchorage, now became worse; and those who were well, 
sought their berths, and laid down to sleep. 

March 10th. Early this morning, all crowded upon deck, 
each one Mashing to see the sun rise from his bed of distant 
waves, and to breathe the fine air of the sea, after having 
been crowded in the confined atmosphere below, only relieved 



496 AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. 

by the draft of freshness brought by the wind-sails, so ar- 
ranged as to send a current down. 

Many of those sick yesterday are getting better, and are 
eagerly inquiring for coffee, bread, meat, &c. ; while some 
look worse than ever. They appear to feel most melancholy, 
as they lie upon their blankets upon the deck. — With those 
who are well, the greatest good humor and sport prevails ; 
they have many odd remarks to make at the new scenes pre- 
sented to them. — When the seamen are engaged in their du- 
ties and passing to and fro amid the lofty rigging, our men 
look up at them and often call out to them, with some queer 
expression, which is highly amusing to the old tars. The 
captain of the ship is indulgent towards their capers, and 
laughs heartily at the droll remarks. Capt. Welch was solici- 
tous for the comfort and convenience of all; and seeing many 
with nothing to engage their attention, he brought to them 
all the lighter reading of his library, and distributed histo- 
ries, novels, and romances, with a liberal hand. 

March Wth. This day we have had light winds from the 
south-east, ahead, and we have stood out into the gulf, and 
back towards the coast ; and this evening, are about twenty 
miles from the Island of Lobos, where our colonel has orders, 
discretionary, however, to report to the officer in command. — 
The wind is very light, almost calm ; and the lofty ship rolls, 
and the sails flap against the masts and rigging, with a short, 
irregular motion, most disagreeable to those who are sick ; 
w^ho wish, from their hearts, that she would keep still a 
single moment. — The day has passed away pleasantly with 
all others. Many are enjoying the light breeze, who were 
yesterday laid up in their berths. The bulwarks, or sides of 
the ship, and the topgallant forecastle, or small, high deck 
at the bow, have been crowded with men, leaning over the 
side, observing the blue water passing behind, or extended 
in its vast expanse, bounded only by the distant horizon, with 
here and there the figure of a ship, so far off that they look- 
ed only like pillars of white ; or else watching the flying- 
fish, which sprung from the water, with their wings out- 
spread, and dashing along the undulating surface, disap- 
peared as suddenly as they rose ; or they crowded up the 



FLYING-FISH, SHARKS, AND PORPOISES. 497 

lower rigging, to catch a view of a huge shark, that rolled 
his body at intervals, above the waves, displaying the large 
fin on his back, as he slowly moved along, as if conscious 
of his power; now coming near us, and then receding; while 
his attending pilot-fish approached, and examined every- 
thing thrown from the ship. Some were much interested at 
the frolics of a large number of porpoises, that gamboled 
around the ship, leaving us with extraordinary speed, and 
returning as swiftly, crossing and recrossing each other 
amid the foam at the bows, then again dashing a\\'ay, full 
of life ; in each successive appearance they were greeted by 
a shout from the crowd. Little birds, blown off from the 
land, that had kept upon their fluttering wings until nearly 
exhausted, came to us to rest, and save themselves, alight- 
ing on a rope, or on any person's head. 

The men caught a small shark, and he, for a time, took 
their attention. — His broad, shovel-shaped nose ; his eyes, 
standing so far on the sides of his head ; his skin, rougher 
than sand-paper ; his singular tail, and his mouth far under 
his head, with his sharp teeth, rendered him an object of 
curiosity. One after another turned him over and over, 
and at last some of them, with "Bull Killer" and "Skin 
Horse " at the head, determined to eat him ; which they did, 
amid the jeers of the others, declaring, however, that he was 
first rate. 

Many listlessly threw themselves on the decks, and laugh- 
ed and chatted quietly for hours. — Towards evening, all was 
a burst of fun and frolic. One of the men turned orator, 
and mounting on the elevated hatches amidships, gave a long 
harangue to the listening crowd. — Went into a description 
of his past life ; — then branched off" into an account of the 
difliculties and inconveniences to which all ardent lovers of 
liberty, equality, and social drams, were subjected to in the 
campaign, &:c. — Then changing his ground, he discussed the 
questions of the tariff', the distribution of the public lands, 
the annexation of Texas, and the present war; then assured 
his audience that hs came to the war for the same reason as 
did many of the officers, not from any particular love for fight- 
ing, but to be able, hereafter, to gain popularity ; said that in 
32 



498 AMUSEMENTS ON THE SHIP. 

this he should succeed ; that he was sure of being sent to the 
legislature of Tennessee when he returned, and from there was 
equally certain of going to congress ; — that then he should 
do much for his native state. — But his main effort should be 
the extermination of the abuses existing in the present sys- 
tem of distilling liquors ; a martyr in the cause of which, he 
said, he believed he should yet yield up his life. lie exhort- 
ed all the men to fight bravely when they arrived at " Peter 
Cruz," as he called it, and not, by cowardice, to disgrace 
their mothers ; — he said that for his part, he should fight 
W'ell, and then he was sure of being cordially received by his 
patriotic old mamma when he returned ; and that after the first 
congratulations had passed, the old lady would say to his 
younger brother, " Here, John, take the jug and run quickly 
down to the store, and get a gallon of the best whisky for 
Zed : for he used to love it mighty well before he went to 
the wars, and I reckon he loves it yet." — This speech lasted 
for an hour and a half; and such a flow of words, and often 
eloquence of style, had the speaker, (a man of great natural 
talent and rare ability), that the deck was crowded with lis- 
teners, both officers and men, who, with loud laughter, cheer- 
ed him continually during its delivery. 

At sunset, the barometer in the cabin fell rapidly, and fear- 
ing the approaching change of weather that it indicated, 
Capt. Welch ordered the topsails closely reefed, the jib 
hauled down, the top-gallant sails furled, and the main-sail 
clewed up, bringing the ship under short sail; but, as yet, 
there was no indication in the sky of any change. 

Fi'iday, March 12th. Last night, at one o'clock, a norther 
came down upon us, verifying the prediction of the truth- 
telling barometer. The sails were filled, bellying to the 
blast, and the ship drove on through the waves, which soon 
rose high, curling and breaking in foam. With the wind on 
her quarter, under short sail, she ran till morning, at ten 
miles an hour. Her motion of rolling and pitching now be- 
came more violent, and, urged by the wind, driving the foam 
from her bows, she rose upon a wave and dashed forward^ 
and downward, as it passed by and broke ahead. She rolled, 
and rose up on the next, as it came on, again to plunge for- 



THE SOLDIERS DURING A GALE. 499 

ward and settle down for a moment in the trough of the sea ; 
while the wind blew with a rustling, whistling, moaning 
noise — now increasing in shrillness and intensity, as the ship 
rose high on the crests, and then lessening for a moment, as 
she settled in the troughs. The men, as they came up from 
below, could not walk forward or aft, save by catching at 
the ropes, the cooking-places, water casks, &c. ; and they 
looked around, dizzy and bewildered. — The centre of the 
ship, between the fore and mainmasts, was occupied by 
the long-boat first ; and in front of that was the galley, or 
house of the cook, containing a large cooking-stove, cop- 
per kettles, &c. On each side of the long-boat, were two 
wooden frames, or large fire-places, lined with brick, with 
a grate of iron across ; — these were for the soldiers to 
cook, divided into their different messes. — Now the men, 
crowded round these, caused much merriment to the seamen, 
as they endeavored to make coffee, and cook their pork. — 
Every surge of the ship sent them back and forth in a 
body, against one another ; — from the fire-places and casks, 
on one side, in a moment they were heavily thrown against 
the bulwarks on the other. — Some were grumbling, some 
laughing, and some swearing — especially those who slipped 
on the deck, as the ship pitched, and came down, with heels 
up, and elbows in the water that ran about in the scuppers ; 
their coffee-pots were upset, and their bread and meat were 
sliding round on the deck. It was a job for them to go 
even to the water casks ; they caught hold of one another, 
and of the rigging, and seized their chances, between the rolls 
and pitches, to jump along three or four feet, to catch again ; 
many were at the sides, holding on, and looking wistfully and 
sourly at the cooking places : — these wanted their coffee, but 
they thought it more than it was worth, to try to make it at 
such a time as this ; though the seamen glided along, at their 
various occupations, without difficulty : for it was their own 
life, and habit enabled them to step as securely on the un- 
steady deck, or on the ropes of the lofty yards, and masts 
above, as our men would on their native hills and mountains. 
After those who had succeeded in getting their breakfast 
had finished it, and those who had not, had satisfied them- 



500 SIGHT OF LAND. 

selves with dry crackers, raw fat pork, and cold water, they 
retreated to their berths, to forget, in sleep, the unpleasant- 
ness of their present situation. 

The wind blew strong from the same quarter all the day, 
the same scene continuing until about four o'clock, when 
the gale began to lull, and the billows somewhat to subside; 
and the motion of the ship became more easy, though at 
times violent — occasionally throwing a half dozen men from 
one side to the other ; or some unlucky wight, who had step- 
ped on the upper part of the ladder to descend to the lower 
deck, from his foothold, sending him down the steps, bump- 
ing on each, to the deck below, on which he was invariably 
sprawled out, greeted in his coming by shouts of laughter, 
with all kinds of exclamations, from the numbers around — • 
themselves safely stowed away in their berths, there secure, 
and not being willing to venture out of them. — The wind 
continued to lull, till, at sunset, the ship became steady 
enough for all to come above, where they amused them- 
selves much until after dark, when they turned in again ; — 
and now, having got well of sea-sickness, they had a time 
of sport, singing, laughter, jokes and mimickry, in the dark- 
ness below. 

Saturday, March \2ih. We continued to run, having last 
evening tacked ship to the south-westward, under easy sail. 
In the distance were two ships, and a brig, standing on the 
same course with ourselves. This morning the wind was 
from the north, but was light. At eight o'clock, we saw the 
land on the starboard bow ; — at eleven, having stood in 
nearer, we found that we were directly opposite Alvarado, 
thirty-three miles south-east from Vera Cruz. We came in 
near enough to see the fort with the spy-glass, and the flag- 
staff on it, and the road which led over the hills into the 
town, and a large dark, waving mass of Mexican troops, 
apparently cavalry, upon it. The town itself was concealed 
from our view. 

This place has been twice attacked by our squadron, 
but not taken ; the vessels not being able to get over 
the bar. — The view of the coast was clear and distinct, 
for a long distance, to the south-east and north-west. To 



RENEWAL OF THE NORTHER. 501 

the south-east was visible the summit of the mountain Tuxla^ 
said to be an active volcano. — In the distance, to the north- 
west, was the point Anton Lizardo. 

As soon as our position was ascertained, the ship was 
braced sharp up to the wind, and stood to the north-east ; 
the other vessels followed our example. After standing out 
some hours, she was put upon the other tack; and, coming 
in sight of the coast again, at six, P. M., w^e found that we 
were directly north of Alvarado, ten miles ; but now, to our 
astonishment, the norther, which we had thought breathing 
its last, sprung up again in power, and blew so hard that this 
was no place for us, for the land lay directly to leeward; 
and the captain put the ship directly out to sea, on a north- 
eastern course. The wind blew stronger in the course of the 
evening, and whistled shrilly through the rigging; — the ship 
pitched and rolled in the sea that was raised. — All of our 
men went below early to their berths. The gale increased as 
the night drew on ; blew more furiously after dark; — a heavy 
sea arose, and the driving ship labored hard ; — the caps of 
the waves broke over her. — Towards morning, the close- 
reefed maintop-sail, with a loud report, burst from its bolt- 
ropes ; another, however, was quickly sent up, which stood 
out the gale. 

Mmxh 20lh. Another week had our noble ship been driv- 
ing about, tost by the tempestuous winds, and unable to reach 
her desired port. We had fallen in with the ship Desde- 
mona, on which was our second battalion, and with several 
other vessels, all endeavoring to make the port of Vera 
Cruz. The norther had driven us all far southward, and the 
wind, though it had lulled away, still blew from the former 
quarter ; our efforts to beat against it were almost unavail- 
ing. — Our men lined the sides and deck of the ship, in list- 
less impatience to arrive at the scene of conflict. 

At one o'clock, A. M., to our great joy, the north wind had 
entirely ceased, and a light breeze sprung up from the south- 
east, which was favorable to us. The ship was immediately 
put on the course for the coast, and sheet after sheet of sail 
was spread on her lofty masts. The other ships, which were 
scattered for miles around, on the distant horizon, did the 



502 COMING IN SIGHT OF VERA CRUZ. 

same, spreading all their canvas to the favorable wind. Af- 
ter sunrise, the bows and lower rigging of the ship were 
crowded with our men, straining their eyes over the vast 
expanse of water ahead, to catch a glimpse of land ; but 
hours passed without a word being heard from them.— At eight 
o'clock, an old salt, belonging to the ship, who had followed 
the sea for forty years, came up on the fore-castle deck, 
looked a moment, and then discharging a huge quid of to- 
bacco, hitching up his duck trousers, and half rolling him- 
self round, so as to face the quarter-deck, called out, in a 
loud voice, " Land O!" The sound brought every man to his 
feet. — "Where away?" shouted the chief mate, who was 
near the cabin. — "Two points on the starboard bow," 
growled out the old seaman. — But still we could not see 
the least trace of it, during half an hour's nearer approach. 
The low, blue coast then became visible, but it was envel- 
oped in mist, and only partially discernible. — The ship still 
continued to approach directly in towards it ; and, after a 
while, flashes could be perceived, to light up the mist, at 
regular intervals. Now, with great interest, all strained their 
vision to bring something more in view. — In another half 
hour, the heavy booming of cannon could be heard. 

At ten o'clock, we had approached so near as to hear 
distinctly the reports, and shortly after, the fog dispersed, and 
revealed the scene, in the clear sunlight, most beautiful and 
intensely interesting. — Before us, and to our right, in 
the distance, w^as the heavy castle of San Juan de Ulloa ; 
it was wrapped in clouds of white smoke, that rolled away 
from above its large extent ; the bright flashes darted out 
from its bastions, and the Mexican flag waved gracefully 
above it. — Between the castle and ourselves, the expanse of 
water, within the reefs which were close to us, was calm and 
tranquil ; to the left of the castle, and beyond it, was the city 
of Vera Cruz, with its numerous domes and spires, in full and 
distinct view ; in its extent, surmounted by so many of these 
it appeared to be a beautiful place ; and wholly unlike any 
city we had ever seen. The left side of this was also ob- 
scured by the volumes of white smoke, which gracefully 
rose over and among the spires and domes. — To the left 



DISTINCT APPEARANCE OF THE CITY. 503 

of the city and castle, the coast was a succession of low 
Band-hills, which appeared bright in the morning sun ; they 
run far off to the southward, losing themselves on the dis- 
tant horizon. Near these, to our left a little, but yet in 
front, was a large fleet of our vessels of war and transport- 
ships ; their forest of tall masts, so closely standing together, 
were surmounted by gay flags and streamers. — They were 
lying just out of effective reach of the guns of the castle. — 
Still farther to the left, and almost opposite to us, was the 
more distant anchorage of Anton Lizardo, where many ships 
were lying. 

On the north of the city and castle, the low range of sand 
hills extended in the distance, until lost to the view. — Two 
small islands, and several reefs, or shallow places of coral 
rock, on which the waves were breaking sullenly, lay between 
us and the anchorage, which now we were steadily nearing. 
Of our army nothing could be seen ; being all hidden by the 
sand-hills, at the left of the city. But as we came nearer, 
we could observe its position, from the clouds of smoke 
and dust, raised there by the exploding bomb-shells, that 
were thrown from both castle and city. We heard their re- 
ports, nearly equal to those of the artillery that sent them ; 
but no answering cannon could be heard from our forces. 

In coming into the harbor, the whole view presented to the 
eye was most interesting, and rendered exciting by the con- 
tinued cannonade. It was of one of those scenes which, 
at first view, strike the mind of the beholder with such 
a vivid and distinct impression, as Mali ever afterwards 
impress it upon his recollection. — While all, crowded on 
the ship's bows, bulwarks, and in the rigging, were gazing 
at this extensive view, their eyes wandering from object to 
object, we were steadily drawing near ; sail after sail was 
furled, and shortly after, the ship moved in among the crow- 
ded fleet at Sacrificios Island ; the anchors were let go, and 
she swung round to her heavy chains ; the sails were all 
furled, and the voyage was ended. — Every man was ordered 
to collect his arms and baggage, and be ready to leave the 
ship at a moment's notice. 

Shortly we were approached by a small four- oared boat, 



504 VISIT OF HARBOR MASTER. 

in which was the harbor-master, who, as he came alongside, 
informed the captain, that on account of the use of the surf- 
boats, we could not be landed until the morrow ; and observ- 
ing the impatience of the men at this, told us, that there 
had not yet been anything done, in the way of answering 
the fire of the city and castle ; that eleven days before, on 
Tuesday, the 9th instant, all the troops then here, about 
seven thousand, had landed at once, in magnificent style ; 
but that the continued norther, which had kept us at sea, 
had prevented the landing of the cannon and mortars neces- 
sary ; and that it would yet be two days before these could 
be planted, to begin operations. — Informed us, that Gen. 
Worth's division had taken position nearest to the harbor ; 
that Gen. Patterson's was next, back of the city, and that 
Gen. Twiggs' was at the water's edge, on the other side ; 
and that the city was thus completely invested, and the 
trenches were made within eight hundred yards of the 
walls. — Told us that the remainder of our brigade, 1st and 
2d Tennessee, together with the 1st and 2d Pennsylvania, 
and Gen. Quitman's, the South Carolina, Alabama, and 
Georgia, and the Rifle regiment, had so far, done the skirm- 
ishing and fighting, driving the Mexicans within their strong- 
hold ; and that the 2d Tennessee, under Gen. Pillow, after 
charging up a steep hill, on a large body of Mexicans, in the 
rear of the city, as they drove them off*, found themselves on 
the top in full view, and within a short range, of the city 
walls and batteries; they planted their flag, and in answer 
to their three loud cheers, they received the first fire of the 
Mexican batteries of the city, which had since been kept up. 
— That a continuous storm of balls and shells, from the city 
and castle, swept like hail, over our lines ; but, from the troops 
being hidden in the trenches, the loss of life on our part as 
yet was small. 

Pie spoke in the highest terms of the generalship of Scott, 
of his masterly plans, the exactness with which he worked 
them out, and their effect in saving the lives of his men. — 
Said the city and castle were doomed : with such a general 
as Scott, and such men as he had, — that fall they must ; — 
that now, with ourselves and the other troops in the harbor 



ANCHORAGE AT SACRIFICI0S5 ISLAND. 505 

there were about thirteen thousand five hundred men under 
his command. — He then took his leave, warning the captain 
to look out for the renewal of the norther, for the extraordi- 
nary clearness of the atmosphere indicated that the furious 
wind was not yet done. The barometer, in the cabin, told 
the same tale; so the ship was moved into a better position, 
under shelter of the small island of Sacrificios, and both an- 
chors dropped, and a great length of the heavy chains given 
out. 

We now had leisure to observe the scene around us; and 
the bulwarks were crowded with men, looking round at the 
large fleet of vessels; among which were several British, 
French, and Spanish men-of-war, and several steamers ; our 
own fleet of vessels of war, — numbers of large ships, from 
which many boats were passing back and forth, with troops, 
cannon, mortars, ammunition, shells, shot, provision, &c., 
landing them on the beach, to the left, about a third of a mile 
distant. This beach, for a mile up its extent, or until it came 
within reach of the guns of the castle, which was about 
two and a half miles in front, was lined, under the sand 
hills, with tents, occupied by the quarter-master's men, 
and temporary store-houses, for the protection of the articles 
landed. The whole length was covered with piles of these 
stores, and was crowded with men. When brought near to 
the vision by a spy-glass — which revealed upon it a most 
busy scene — it appeared like the levee of a vast commer- 
cial city. 

The continued cannonade from the castle drew our at- 
tention to that fortification, and we observed a large vessel 
lying under the protection of its guns ; on inquiry, we found 
that she was a French barque, which had run the blockade, de- 
livering to the castle a full cargo of excellent powder and 
shells ; and was now awaiting her chance to get out with- 
out capture. Many a curse had been bestowed upon her by 
our naval officers and men; but she was now in a situation 
m which they dared not interrupt or approach her. 

The island of Sacrificios, near us, too, was an interesting 
object : for upon it the Spaniards, under Cortez, first landed, 
more than three hundred years since, when about conquer- 



50(1 RENEWAL OF THE NORTHER. 

ing the empire of Mexico. — Here they found that human 
victims were yearly offered in sacrifice to the heathen gods 
of the Mexicans ; — hence they gave the present name, vSac- 
rificios, to the island. A heathen temple was on it then, 
and, of late years, several subterranean apartments have 
been found in its little extent, and many curious sculptured 
specimens of earthen, and stone ware, manufactured with 
great skill by the ancient Mexicans, and used in those sacri- 
fices of men, have been brought to light. 

After night had set in, w^e remained upon deck to witness 
the light, flashing continuaUy from the guns of the city and 
castle, and the brilliant red glare of the congreve rockets that 
rose, passed over, and exploded ; but at length, wearied, we 
retired below to sleep. 

Sunday, March 21st. We had gone below last night at a 
late hour, and having the information we had received to 
converse upon, we did not immediately retire to our berths. 
Many of the men sat in groups on the lower deck, with 
their candles giving a flickering light upon the ti rs of 
rough berths in the middle of the ship, and on either 
side, in which, in rows above each other, many had gone to 
rest ; — the ship being quiet and still on the water, for the 
first time since we had come on board. Before we dispers- 
ed to our berths, the norther again rushed down in power 
from the open sea upon the coast, city and fleet. — The ships 
swung around to its force, and the furious wind soon raised 
a heavy sea, which, notwithstanding the protection of the 
island and reefs to seaward, ran so high as to give all the 
heavy vessels much motion. 

The wind increased through the night, and on com-, 
ing on deck in the morning, a wild scene was before and 
around us, far different from that of the day before. The 
wind was coming in from the open sea, and the mountain 
waves, rapidly following each other, were dashing in a ter- 
rific manner on the reefs, which protected us from their vio- 
lence. The water about these appeared white with foam. 

On the reef to the seaward was the wreck of the French 
barque, that, last evening, had been so quietly lying under 
the guns of the castle. She had endeavored to get out, but 



WRECK OF FRENCH BARQUE. 507 

Ibeing chased by the steamer Hunter, ran aground; — the steam- 
<«r also shared the same fate, as well as a schooner that had 
endeavored to come in. The crew of the barque were in a 
most perilous situation, for she was a total wreck ; — every 
mountain billow dashed over her broken frame ; — her deck 
was ripped off; her foremast and mainmast were gone; — 
from her mizenmast was flying a signal of distress, their flag 
at half mast. The French man-of-war immediately, in the 
violent gale, sent boats to rescue the crew, who, in the inter- 
vals between the waves, could be seen with the spy-glass 
hanging to the timbers. 

" Served her right," said the captain of our ship, as he 
took his spy-glass from his eye ; " but,' continued he, " they 
can well afford to lose the ship, after making as much as 
they have by running the blockade." — "But, captain," said 
one of our officers, as he took the glass and directed it to- 
wards the wreck in the distance, " her money was probably 
on board of her." — " Oh no !" replied he ; " they were not 
so foolish as to risk the loss of that ; probably they have sent 
it off by the British mail steamer, which our government, 
perhaps too fearful of offending John Bull, have allowed to 
run back and forth continually during the blockade." — And 
so we found it afterwards : — the vessel was lost, but the mo- 
ney was safe. 

In the fleet of vessels around us, every exertion had been 
made by each to hold on during the stormy night ; most of 
them, like our own, had done so ; but three had parted their 
chains, and had gone ashore, where they now lay, with every 
wave dashing over them. On one, which had filled with wa- 
ter, were the seamen in the rigging, and a crowd of men on 
the beach, endeavoring to rescue them, — which was finally 
accomplished, with the loss of two lives, as we afterwards 
learned. A beautiful white-bottomed brig had gone on bows 
foremost, and was hard up on the sand. 

In the distance, in front, the firing from the castle contin- 
ued unabated, but the wind was so furious, and so moaned 
and whistled in the rigging, and the dashing surf on the reef 
was accompanied with so loud a roar, that both combined 
prevented us from hearing a single report of the heavy artil- 



508 GRAND SCENE FROM THE ANCHORAGE. 

lery. The smoke from each discharge blew away in an in- 
stant, instead of lingering in graceful volumes above it, as 
on yesterday. 

No more artillery or stores could be landed, for the boats 
were not able to come to the fleet; — many of them were thrown 
up by the gale on the beach : — so, seeing no prospect of 
being landed this day, and knowing, that in such a wind, 
nothing was doing on shore, we contented ourselves with 
watching the furious war of the elements, and the deadly 
strife of men visible above it. Listlessness no one could 
feel, with such a grand scene, upon so magnificent a scale, 
as that now presented to them. — The lofty mountain of Ori- 
zaba, near an hundred miles distant in the interior, could be 
seen overlooking all, by its white top of snow. 

During the whole forenoon the scene continued of furious 
winds, with a clear sky ; of rapidly chasing waves within the 
reefs ; of rolling vessels riding out the gale ; of the beach, 
lashed with foam ; of the heavy surf of the sea thundering 
upon the reefs to windward and upon the shipwrecked ves- 
sels, and of the cannonade from the castle and city. — In the 
course of the afternoon the wind began to abate, and the 
boats to run, although it was still dangerous for them ; but 
the necessity for cannon, mortars, shells and shot, was press- 
ing on shore. — The flag was hoisted at our foremast head, in 
token that we were ready to go, but it was so late that no 
boats came for us ; and so, disappointed, we again went be- 
low, and endeavored to pass away the time as easily as pos- 
sible. With our ships of war was much ceremony and firing 
salutes during the day, on account of change of commanders 
— Com. Perry taking the place of Com. Conner. Night came 
on, and with it the brilliant scene of rockets and bomb-shells 
from the enemy. 

Monday, March 22d. This morning the wind was from the 
south-east, and the boats had been passing to and fro from 
daylight, and the greatest activity was seen among them and 
on the beach, which was, for its long extent, almost black 
with the crowds of soldiers, seamen and laborers, at their va- 
rious duties Early in the morning, to our great joy, we saw 
four of the heavy surf boats, each manned by twelve sea- 



LANDING OF THE REGIMENT. 509 

men, coming towards us and the Desdemona, near, on which 
was our second battalion. They came alongside, and sixty 
of us went at a time, in each, towards the beach, where, when 
we struck the sands, we leaped into the water, holding up 
our guns, and soon stood upon the shore amid the crowd, close 
by the stranded vessels. — The boats made other trips, and in 
an hour or two the whole regiment had left the two noble 
ships that had so safely brought them, and were again on the 
land, in the midst of a noisy, apparently confused, extensive 
scene, up and down the beach, which can be imagined, but 
not easily described. 

During the time occupied by the boats, as they returned to 
the ships for the remainder of the regiment, we that had 
landed threw ourselves on the sands, and, interested in the 
busy scene around us, passed the time pleasantly, await- 
ing their return. — The waves threw up many articles 
from the wrecked barque on the reef; pieces of her tim- 
bers and furniture were scattered along the shore. Seeing a 
large object floating about in the billows, some of the men 
stripped off and swam to it, and found it to be a hogshead 
of wine. — With a whoop they announced their prize, and 
many jumped into the water, and it was soon rolled ashore, 
the head knocked in, and a merry, noisy crowd of us gather- 
ed around it. — Every canteen near was filled ; and every one 
had a draught of the fine liquor that the waves had thrown 
up, as if to "treat" us on our landing at Vera Cruz. — A 
cask of porter soon followed, but that was taken possession 
of by the officer of regulars stationed near. — Then came 
another object, and they dashed in for that. On getting 
it out, it was found to be a box of shoes. These were 
sold by the rescuers at twenty-five cents per pair. They 
were gone quickly. — Something else was seen, and the swim- 
mers buffeted the rolling surf, and brought to shore a couple 
•of boxes of ground pepper, in papers. The pepper was 
found to be but little injured. This was distributed gratis 
among the messes. — Broken kegs and rolls of butter, mixed 
with sand, came up ; but, on account of the sand, not much 
attention was paid to it. Some " cute " chaps, however, si- 
lently collected it. and at night, placing it in camp-kettles, 



510 APPEARANCE OF THE BEACH. 

melted it ; the sand — which was clean — sunk to the bottom^ 
and they had plenty of first rate butter : a great rarity. — 
These were pronounced " smart," by their comrades. — Many 
other things came ; and, after the regiment had gone, some 
of the regulars dashed in, and, in place of a box of goods, 
brought out a dead man — one of the shipwrecked seamen. 

The regiment had landed upon the beach. It was formed 
and marched up to the encampment of Gen. Pillow's brig- 
ade, in the investing lines, to the rear of the city ; leaving a 
small guard, to protect the tents and baggage remaining. 
On this guard the author was detailed ; and, there being no- 
thing to do, he easily obtained the opportunity to stroll 
around. — And now, reader, will you, in imagination, accom- 
pany him ? 

In the first place, you stand on the flat, sandy beach, 
which, from the breaking waves on the right, (as you look 
up toward the city), is about one hundred yards in width, to 
the base of the fantastic shaped sand hills on the left. — • 
These, by the wind, are thrown up like snow-drifts, in every 
shape and form, from fifty to two hundred feet high. They 
run parallel with the beach, all the way up towards the city ; 
and the whole extent of this, thus bounded, is crowded with 
busy life. 

Near us are the vessels which have been driven ashore. — 
They are endeavoring to get off, having all sail backed to the 
wind ; and heaving at their anchors, placed out in the deep 
water. — You observe, to the right, the harbor spread out ; 
the large fleet at anchor ; the busy boats, going and return- 
ing ; the horse transports, throwing horses and mules over- 
board : — these are swimming ashore, and are caught by men 
stationed along, up and down the beach. — On the distant 
horizon you perceive many vessels, which are coming here, 
and departing hence. — On the left, you see nothing but the 
bare sand hills, and the camp of a company of infantry — the 
picket guard in this direction. 

In front you witness such a crowd and bustle, for a mile or 
more, that you can make nothing of it : so in that direction 
we will walk ; but first notice that the beach, after stretch- 
ing up that distance in a straight line, takes a sweep off to 



SUMMONS OF GEN. SCOTT TO GEN. MORALES. 511 

the right, and then all of it is bare ; for in this course it 
comes directly under the range of the guns of the castle, 
which you see still further up. There are no tents or men 
upon it there, save, in the distance, three horsemen, which 
you observe going up with a white flag. — Do you notice, 
fthat on the heavy battlements of the castle, the firing has 
ceased? — the smoke rolls away from it, and a corresponding 
white flag is run up on the staff, near to the national en- 
sign. You observe, too, that the firing ceases from the city, 
and all is still. — The bearer of the flag is Capt. Johnson, of 
the engineers ; he is accompanied by a bugler, to sound a 
parley, and an interpreter. He is bearing from Gen. Scott 
a summons to Gen. Morales,* the Mexican commander, to 
surrender the city, — the castle he asks not for ; but proposes, 

* SUMMOKS OF GEX. SCOTT TO GEN. MOHALES. 

Headquarters of the Army of the UmxED States of America, ) 
Camp Washinglon, before Vera Cruz, March'^2, 1847. ) 

The undersigned, Major General Scott, General-in-Chief of the Armies of the 
United States of America, in addition to the close blockade of the coast and port of 
Vera Cruz, previously established by the squadron under Commodore Conner, of the 
IVavy of the said States — having now fully invested the said City, with an overwhelm- 
ing army, so as to render it impossible that its garrison should receive succor or rein- 
forcement of any kind ; and having caused to be established, batteries competent to 
the speedy reduction of the said City — he, the undersigned, deems it due to the cour- 
tesies of war, in like cases, as well as to the rights of humanity, to summon his 
Excellency, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the City of Vera Cruz, to 
surrender the same to the arms of the United States of America, present before Iho 
place. 

The undersigned, anxious to spare the beautiful city of Vera Cruz from the immi- 
nent hazard of demolition, its gallant defenders from a useless effusion of blood, and 
its peaceful inhabitants, women and children, inclusive, from the inevitable horrors 
of a triumphant assault, addresses this summons to the intelligence, the gallantry and 
patriotism, no less than to the humanity of his Excellency, the Governor and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of Vera (Jruz. 

The undersigned is not accurately informed, whether both the city of Vera Cruz 
and the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa, be under the command of his Excellency, or 
whether each place has its own independent commander, but the undersigned, moved 
by the considerations adverted to above, may be willing to stipulate, that if the city 
should, by capitulation, be garrisoned by a part of his troops, no missile shall be fired 
from within the city, or from its bastions or walls, upon the Castle, unless the Castle 
should previously fire upon the city. 

The undersigned has the honor to tender to his distinguished opponent, his Excel- 
lency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Vera Cruz, the assurance of the 
high respect and consideration of the undersigned, 

[Signed] WINFIELD SCOTT.' 



512 CANNON— MORTARS— SHELLS. 

if the town is surrendered, not to fire on the castle, provided 
that it does not fire upon the city. It is not known what 
effect this summons will have ; as Gen. Morales is said 
to be a brave and accomplished officer ; but we will soon 
find out. — As it is now about two o'clock, P. M., and the offi- 
cer carrying the flag has instructions to return within two, 
hours, and will not be back in less than that, let us pursue 
our walk. 

After passing the stranded vessels, and the landing horses, 
we see the stores of all kinds, large piles of corn, oats, 
bread, pork, &c., are being taken off by the wagons, to the 
commissary's and quartermaster's stations. We notice a 
hundred or two drowned horses that are washed up by the 
waves ; these were from a wrecked transport, off the harbor. 
We observe landing, great numbers of ten inch shells, which 
the seamen and laborers are rolling up on planks, laid along 
down to the water ; — look at these shells ; they are round 
and hollow ; have one circular hole in them ; by looking into 
that, 3^ou perceive the solid iron is nearly two inches thick ; 
— lift the shell, — can't do it well — too heavy. Observe what 
a pile of them are here ; — beyond, what quantities of cannon 
ehot. You see about fifty men carrying from the large boats 
square copper boxes of powder, up to the magazine, which 
is rudely built of rough plank at the base of the sand hills. 

Here are several mortars landing ; you observe that they 
are short and very heavy ; set on a stout timber bed ; their 
mouths are slanting up, and you can almost stand in one; 
look into it, — it is very thick and strong ; it has a chamber 
below for the powder. They are hoisting one of these cum- 
brous, destructive pieces, upon a heavy wagon frame, and 
in the night it is going up to the trenches, to be placed in 
position. — Lying beyond, are four Paixhan guns ; each one 
weighs two or three tons ; — see how heavy, how large ; the 
balls they carry weigh sixty-eight pounds each, and a crash- 
ing they make, when they strike ; — here is a large pile of 
these shot. These cannon are to go up to the batteries also. 
— Here are large piles of wagon-bodies, axles, tongues, and 
bows, and hundreds of men are fitting them together, for 
they are all wanted now. 



BUSY SCENE ON THE BEACH. 513 

Farther up, we witness crowds of seamen, naval officers, 
quartermaster's men, and soldiers, all at work, as quickly as 
they can spring to it, in the landing and taking care of so 
many heavy articles, all needed immediately. — There are a 
number of men fitting upon the mules the new harness, which, 
in boxes, is near in large quantities. — Here stand a row of 
wagons, loaded with the heavy shells, to start after dark for 
the trenches; there, powder-wagons, the same; here a row 
of mules, packed with barrels of bread, tents, and mess-bags, 
are quietly going on towards the camp, around the cit3^ — 
There come a drove of wet mules, just landed, dashing along, 
and driven towards the yard, which is farther up. 

Along the beach are many small boats from the men-of- 
war and the transport-ships ; many landing sutler's goods, 
&c., and men are taking them up to the store tents, that arc 
thickly stowed one to another, under the sand hills, each with 
a crowd of men around, buying. High and dry, here and 
there, you see the huge form of one of the surf-boats, which 
the storm drove up. There are thirt}*, or more, of these so 
placed ; and as they are all wanted, and nearly all injured, 
you observe gangs of ship-carpenters knocking and banging 
away at each. — Up a little farther, brass cannon and how- 
itzers are landing, and the soldiers are attending to them as 
they come. — Officers, both army and naval, wagon-masters, 
quartermasters and commissaries, mounted, and on foot, are 
in the scene, giving orders, &c. — Let us look into one of the 
sutlers' large tents, and see the style in which he has to stow 
his goods ; — all in confusion, boxes upon boxes, around, and 
above his head, leaving a little area in which he stands to 
sell. — You have to keep a look-out every moment, or you will 
be run over, in the busy scene ; the noise of so manj^ opera- 
tions going on, confounds you. — What a jabbering, cursing, 
commanding, shouting, and noise mingles from the long ex- 
tent of the beach, and is drowned in the heavier roar of the 
waves. 

You may travel much, reader, but it will be a long time 

before you see such a noisy, active, various, crowded scene 

as that on the beach below Vera Cruz now. Look around 

upon it up and down : you see land and water ; you observe 

33 



514 HIGH hills of sand. 

ships, brigs, schooners, steamers, launches, surf boats, long 
boats and small boats ; you perceive artillery, munitions of 
war of every kind, stores of all sorts, wagons, mules, and 
horses ; you witness officers, soldiers, seamen, sutlers, wag- 
oners, ship carpenters, wheel-wrights, laborers, and loafers, 
crowding, Mdnding and turning among one another, and be- 
tween and about the high piles of stores, shells, cannon balls, 
goods, &c., &c., from the brink of the dashing waves to the 
sand hills. — Look again, for it is worth seeing. 

Passing on, after a long walk, we come up to the head of 
the busy scene, and to the point where the beach takes a 
long turn off to the right, going towards the castle and city. 
It will not do to go further upon it, for we might get our heads 
blown off, if the firing re-commences : so we will turn to the 
left, along the road which has been made among the sand 
hills, towards the camp. — The sand now is deeper, and hard 
to travel through. The marquees of the quartermaster and 
commissary departments are standing thickly on each side 
of the road, and the bare hills are thrown up like huge snow 
drifts above them. Around, in the little valleys between 
these, some of which are covered with short grass, are the 
camps of that portion of the troops that are near Gen. Scott's 
quarters ; which are over the next sand hill, to our left. — 
The road is crowded with soldiers, laborers, seamen, horses, 
mules and wagons, going to and returning from camp ; and 
there are many loose burros, whose owners have fled from our 
neighborhood, and these are left to pick up their living ; — 
they are caught and rode by the sailors, who cut a queer set 
of capers upon them. 

Let us leave the road, and turning to the right, climb up 
the huge sand hill and look around. As we go up, you ob- 
serve our tracks far behind us, appearing precisely as though 
they were made in snow ; and you see the surface of the hill 
is blown into thousands of little ridges and waves, like those 
that the wintry storm at home piles up on the snow-drifts. 

Arrived at the top of the hill, a beautiful and extensive 
view presents itself. Before us is the city; on the right of 
it, the castle ; between us and the city, is the succession of 
sand hills, which, however, there, are mostly overgrown with 



VIEW FROM A SAND HILL. 515 

miisquit bushes. On our right, we see the beach we have 
left, the fleet at anchor, the islands of Sacrificios and Verde, 
and beyond them, sweeping around the castle in front, the 
broad blue gulf. The castle is quiet, and the white flag of 
truce is still flying from above it. The city is silent also ; 
— no smoke is seen ; no report heard. — Our trenches, that 
run along between the city and ourselves, cannot be discern- 
ed, being concealed by the musquit chapparal on the hills 
intervening ; — not a living person can be seen in that direc- 
tion, though the trenches are full of soldiers, artillery and in- 
fantry, of Gen, Worth's division. 

None of our camps can be seen from this height ; they are 
all in the valleys and among the hills behind us, and stretch- 
ing round to our left, until Gen. Twiggs', the farthest advan- 
ced, is upon the edge of the water, to the north-west, and the 
city is thus completely invested ; — no one can go in or come 
out, save foreigners, who have been allowed, until to-day, to 
leave the city and go on board the men-of-war of their re- 
spective nations. But to-day. Gen. Scott has stopped that 
privilege, of which few have availed themselves ; the greater 
number, with the consuls of England, France, Prussia and 
Spain, at their head, believing that the city is so strong and 
well armed that w^e cannot take it, and that the heavy stone 
buildings are impervious to bomb-shells ; and if we should 
attempt to carry it by storm, that we would be cut to pieces : 
— and in this last they were not far wrong. 

In the city before us, and around the walls in the heavy 
forts, are nearly five thousand men, besides the inhabitants, 
well armed, with near two hundred cannon and mortars ; 
and in the castle to the right are more than a thousand men. 
Math more than two hundred heavy cannon and mortars, with 
plenty of water and provisions, they say. 

But see : — down comes the white flag which has been fly- 
ing on the castle, and we see the horsemen, with the flag of 
truce, coming back along the beach. — What can be the an- 
swer to the summons ? — Look at that white smoke that darts 
out from the city wall, followed by the thundering report : 
sec the ball throwing up that cloud of dust near the trenches. 
— That gives us the import of the answer. — See another from 



516 RE-COMMENCEMENT OF MEXICAN FIRING. 

the same fort, and shortly another ; but none are directed to- 
wards the horsemen, who, with the white flag, come rapidly 
down towards us ; — they dash along the beach, by the base 
of the hill, and, taking the road by which we left, a few mo- 
ments' gallop brings them to the quarters of Gen. Scott. 

Let us look back over the hill, towards those. — Hardly a 
moment has elapsed, before another horseman leaves thereat 
full speed ; does not, like the others, go up the beach. — He 
has no flag. — He comes to the foot of the hill, and passing 
around it and among the others, is lost to our view, as he 
moves directly towards the trenches. Let us look ; he un- 
doubtedly carries the order to re-commence firing, for several 
mortars are there ready. — Every moment seems an age of 
suspense. That single battery of the city is still in opera- 
tion, and its balls plow up the earth. 

But see : — from the tangled distant growth of chapparal 
between us and the city, a large volume of smoke shoots up 
and rolls out ; another, and still others follow. Hear their 
stunning reports, together with the noise of the shells, as 
they pass over into the city. The first few burst in the air ; 
— their sharp peals are like sudden claps of thunder. — The 
city opens from all the batteries in reply. Witness the vol- 
umes of smoke rising from the castle, and the booming of 
artillery is incessant. 

Turn around to the right ; — see, gracefully approaching, 
five slender schooners on the water, and with them two 
steamers; — they take their positions. They are what is 
called the Mosquito Fleet, and each one carries heavy guns. 
(Their position, taken this evening, is placed on the right of 
the picture, opposite page 536). See the smoke rising from 
them ; — how rapidly they fire. 

Now, a grand scene is before us. — Seven large mortars 
and four six-inch cohorns, smaller, but destructive, from 
the trenches or batteries Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are at work, and 
seven heavy guns from the musquito fleet ; while so many 
are opening in reply from the castle and city, that we can- 
not keep the account. But the iron storm of shot and shells, 
bursting, plowing, and throwing up clouds of sand and dust, 
far and near, are doing but little damage to our troops or 



ANSWERING FIRE OF THE AMERICANS. 517 

batteries, for they are all in the long narrow trenches, under 
the ground. 

Scott has not, in his arrangements, allowed any detach- 
ment to expose itself to the destructive fire that would so 
quickly annihilate them. Every advance near them has 
been made by digging at night, like moles, unseen, slow, but 
sure. — Sec the shells from the fort in the city, nearest the 
harbor, burst round the vessels. — Here is an officer who is 
directly from Gen. Scott's quarters. He informs us that Gen. 
Morales sent back a reply to Gen. Scott, refusing to surren- 
der the city, and stating his determination to defend it to the 
last.* 

His action he has now commenced in good spirit. — The 
scene is such that you could remain and gaze with interest 
unabating for hours ; but night is approaching, and the au- 
thor must return to his post. Let us descend the hill to 
the road; — there we learn that Capt. Vinton, commanding 
the batteries, was killed a few moments since, by one of the 
enemy's shells. — Turning to the crowded beach, we find it 
still busy as before, though now it is near dark. Three heavy 
mortars are hoisted on the wagon frames, and these, with 
the wagons containing shells, are about starting out for the 
trenches, as they cannot now be seen in their approaches 

* IlKi'LY OF GEJf. MORALES TO GEX. SCOTt's SUMMONS. 

[translation.] 

Vera Cruz, March 22, 1847. 

The undersigned, commanding general of the free and sovereign slate of Vera 
Cruz, has informed himself to the contents of the note which Maj. Gen. 8cott, gen- 
eral-in-chief of the forces of the United States, has addressed to him, under date of 
to-day, demanding the surrender of this place, and castle of Ulua ; and, in answer, 
has to say, that the above named fortress, as well as this place, depends on his author- 
ity, and it being the principal duty, in order to prove worthy of the confidence placed 
in him by the government of the nation, to defend both points at all costs, to effect 
which he counts upon the necessary elements, and will make it good to the last ; — 
therefore, his excellency can commence his operations of war in the manner which he 
may consider most advantageous. 

The undersigned has the honor to return to the general-in-chief of the forces of the 
United States the demonstrations of esteem he may be pleased to honor him with. 

God and Liberty. 

(Signed) JUAN MORALES. 

To Majou General Scott, 

General-in-chief of the forces of the United States, 
situated in sight of this place. 



"518 SCENE FROM THE BEACH BY NIGHT. 

there. — Following the beach down, as we came up, through 
the multitude, who seem to forget that there is any such 
thing as rest at night, we at last come to the stranded ves- 
sels, and near them are the guard fires, made of pieces of the 
wreck washed ashore. Will you, in imagination, stay with 
us longer ? — If so, sit down on the sand around the fires, and 
take with us a tin cup of hot cofljee and a piece of hard 
bread, with a piece of fat pork. — We would ofl^er you more, 
if we had it. 

Gaze around : how wild and dai'k is the scene ; — the trou- 
bled waves dash at our feet, and sparkle in their foam : the 
roar of their breaking is continual. The wind is cool, coming 
off' the water. — See how many lights are visible in the crowd- 
ed fleet of vessels to our right, and what a number more are 
up the beach. — Observe how singularly our camp fires light 
the sails of this brig, that is ashore so near by us that her 
bowsprit is almost over us. — What a ghastly flickering they 
throw around, and illumine the rough faces of the men who 
are seated about you. — Are we not a hard looking set, with 
our long mustachios and longer whiskers, and rough garbs, 
illumined by so wild a light ? — But your attention is drawn 
away from these things, which, although strange and inter- 
esting, cannot keep your eyes from the magnificent scene that 
is still going on towards the castle and city. — Observe the 
bright flashes there, as they for the instant light up the battle- 
ments of the castle, and render the heavy volumes of smoke 
above it luminous against the surrounding darkness. See 
the same from the vessels : one instant by the light you per- 
ceive the whole outline of the vessel, her masts, and spars, 
and smoke, and then all is dark, but again illumined; above 
the whole, describing long arcs of circles high in the air, 
see the bomb-shells rising over and falling, shown in their 
courses by the fuses, which twinkle like bright red stars. 
— Observe that flash ; notice the shell thus rising ; — count 
seconds: one, two, three, four, — it is still rising, — five, six, 
— it takes its long sweep, — seven, — it is coming down, — 
eight, nine, — it has fallen. — How heavily must that iron mass 
of a hundred pounds have fallen from such a height as that. 
But look, the flash of the explosion brings out in view, for an 



CONTINUATION OF BOMBARDMENT. 519 

instant, the domes and spires among which it descended. — 
Tiie report you cannot distinguish from the mingled roar of 
the whole. Several shells, from both sides, are in the air at 
the same moment; and, in their high sweeps, they cross each 
other in their lines of light. — After gazing at the scene, 
you may turn from it ; 3'et you will be drawn to look again. 
— But the night wears away, and on the cold beach around 
you, the soldiers, spreading their blankets, and wrapping 
themselves up in them, seek repose, careless of the morrow's 
fate. — This sleeping on the wet sea-beach, with the cold 
wind upon you, and with a single blanket only, for bed and 
covering, with the dashing waves at your feet, and the re- 
ports of artillery to lull you, you will not choose ; and as the 
author is obliged to take it so, and from continued exposure 
it comes easy, too, he bids you, reader, good-night. 

Saturday, March 23c?. Will you again accompany the author 
during the day? for in the various and important events, so 
rapidly taking place, it is difficult to keep up with them ; and 
now, every day is an age in the life of one who sees them. 
— From the same spot we left last night, on the beach, look 
with him around you ; — the cannonade and bombardment 
have kept their continual thunder for the whole night, until 
about an hour since. The landing of shot, shells, powder, 
cannon, and stores, has not ceased ; fatigued men have been 
replaced by fresh ones, and all is yet going on. Another 
vessel has arrived, during the time, with thirteen additional 
mortars, and quantities of shells, which are landing. — Now 
there is a quiet in the storm of war ; the scene around is 
beautiful and grand. The castle and the city are noiseless ; 
the little fleet, that have done such service during the night, 
have hauled off from their position, and are resting, as it 
were, near the heavy ships of war. The batteries are also 
quiet. — The sun rises from his ocean bed, and his rays bright- 
en up the magnificent stone buildings of the city and the im- 
posing battlements of the castle ; the Mexican flag, of green, 
red, and yellQW, floats in the morning air from the lofty staffs 
above them; while from every mast in the crowded fleet, the 
stars and stripes flow out in the light breeze. — The mountain 
of Orizaba, with its lofty, snow-capped summit, is distinctly 



520 MUSQUITO FLEET FIRING AT THE CASTLE. 

visible inland ; but this only foretells the renewal of the nor- 
ther, notwithstanding the calmness of the scene at present. 
— The scene is beautiful of nature's quiet, but it is soon to be 
broken ; for, sec, the signal Hags are run up on the commo- 
dore's ship. These are responded to by the musquito fleet, of 
the seven small vessels ; which immediately move out, and 
fall in a line opposite the castle, and about a mile from it. 
— It is a dangerous position. — Look at them, as gracefully 
they lay, each with its large flag waving above. — There goes 
the smoke ; and again, again, and again ; the loud reports 
reverberate along the sand hills, in the still, morning air. 
Their shells burst in and about the castle, but that seems to 
notice them not. — "A little puppy, barking at a bull-dog," 
says a volunteer, seated on the sand, and with us watching 
them. — Still they fire, and are enveloped in their smoke ; 
now a slight wind takes that off" over the water. But look ! 
all along the battlements of the castle, dart out sheets of 
flame and clouds of smoke ; — around the vessels the water 
is thrown high, in perpendicular columns of dashing spray ; 
how thickly the balls fall near them; but the vessels are so 
small, that, at the distance, they are hard to hit; amid the 
terrific hail of iron that is pouring upon them, they still keep 
up their fire. — The batteries open on the land, and throw 
their shells into the city. The three mortars, that went out 
last night, are added to those in operation before. The peals 
of all are continual ; the ten-fold number of cannon along 
the eity walls, reply in their thunders ; and in the immense 
volumes of smoke that rise from all, and hang over and among 
the domes, the destructive scene closes in. — But observe, one 
of the schooners ceases her fire ; the steamer goes to her, 
and making fast, tows her rapidly away. She is badly struck ; 
see, her mainmast totters. — You look round, at the splendid 
fleet of frigates and sloops of war, with the line-of-battle 
ship, Ohio, at their head, and each with their heavy guns 
protruding in bristling rows from their sides, and with gay 
streamers from their tall masts, and you ask why they do 
not go to the relief of the little vessels that are in such a 
dangerous situation. — They know better than to do it. — The 
castle is not now as it was when the French, by accidentally 



CAMP AT MALIBRAN. 521 

blowing up one of its magazines, took it, when it was al- 
ready almost dismantled. Then its powder was so poor, that 
the shot would not go through the sides of the ships ; only 
nineteen of its guns were in a condition to be worked, and 
the garrison were all unprepared for an attack : but that ca- 
tastrophe had learned them a lesson ; and having had the 
whole summer to prepare, they have now put the impregna- 
ble fortress in its proper state. Its guns are good, its pow- 
der excellent, its garrison strong, and it is folly for our large 
vessels to approach it. — See, the signal of recall is hoisted 
on the commodore's ship, and the little flotilla haul off as 
fast as possible ; — they have had enough, and will not try it 
again. 

As the guard of our regiment are now going up to the 
camp, let us follow; leaving, for the present, the beach at this 
point, and passing up through the busy crowd, to the road, 
striking off in that to the left and winding among the bare 
sand hills, upon which not even a bunch of grass can find 
root ; — passing over these, and through the little valleys be- 
tween, we come to hills of thick chapparal, through which 
the road has been cut, and a mile and a half distance from 
the beach, brings us out to a plain, upon which is a winding 
lake of shallow water; at the extremity of this plain from 
the town, directly towards which it runs, is the old, ruined 
castle of Malibran ; and in the rear of this, we find our regi- 
ment encamped, with some of the 2d Tennessee and Illinois 
infantry. In a building near, are the headquarters of Gen. 
Patterson. (A inciv of this old ruin may he seen opposite page 
528). — We find that most of our regiment have been hard at 
work all the night, in hauling the sixty-eight pounders, from 
the beach, through the sand and over the hills, to a new work, 
called the ]\aval Battery, or battery No. 5, which is erecting 
in the chapparal on a hill, not far from the city walls ; of the 
construction of this, the Mexicans, as yet, are not aware; it 
will play heavily upon them, for it is to mount six guns, three 
of them being sixty-eight, and three thirty-two pounders. — 
The men, after their work, are stretched out in their tents 
asleep, unmindful of the continued connonade, that is thun- 
dering upon the air. Some few are on the old ruins, looking 



622 SLACKENING OF THE FIRE OF MORTAR BATTERIES. 

with interest upon the smoke-enveloped city, which is before 
them, up the plain ; though the general will not let many- 
show themselves at a time, lest they should provoke the can- 
non balls of the enemy, for we are directly under their fire. 
— We find that a prisoner was taken this morning, who says, 
that during the night our shells were most destructive within 
the city. And now, reader, the author can accompany you 
no farther to-day, not knowing at Avhat time the regiment, or 
part of it, may be called upon for more active service. 

— At noon, on this day, according to the indications in the 
morning, the norther sprung up again, and blew with great 
force ; throwing the sand in the trenches, blinding the eyes 
of the artillerists, more than the gunpowder smoke from the 
mortars, and impeding the operations much ; almost stopping 
the work on the new batteries, Nos. 4 and 5. — It also raised 
the waves in the harbor so high, and dashed them so on the 
beach, as entirely to stop the passage of the boats, and the 
landing of mortars, shot, and shells; and, for the want of the 
latter, the mortars, which had thrown them so incessantly 
into the city during the night and the forenoon, were now 
obliged to slacken their fire. This falling oft" seemed to en- 
courage the enemy, who, from the castle and every fort, fired 
with renewed energy ; — for the norther was not at all incon- 
venient to them, being at their backs, and the high build- 
ings of the city broke its force ; neither was there any sand 
within the walls, to trouble them ; but without, it rolled in 
driving clouds into the trenches. — The smoke of the combat 
now was blown off as it issued from the mouths of the can- 
non, and all was clear above the city and castle. 

As the excitement of the army, during the whole day and 
the previous night, had been highly raised, they were now, 
even to every soldier, fretted and displeased at the slow, lan- 
guid manner in which our batteries were obliged to fire, for 
the want of shells, and on account of the furious driving 
sand ; and at the rapidity of the discharges of the enemy's 
artiller}^ so cheered by the depression of ours. 

In the mean time, the storm increased, drove many of 
the surf-boats upon the beach, and entirely stopped the 
busy scene there, before described; prostrated the sutlers' 



CITY ON FIRE AFTER NIGHT. 523 

store tents, and sent all the laborers over the sand hills, for 
shelter. — Night drew on, and still the norther continued un- 
abated ; the castle and the forts of the city were lit up by 
the continual discharge of tlieir artillery ; and the numerous 
shells seemed to ride out towards us, borne on the careering 
tempest ; while only occasionally did our opposing shells rise 
up, and, breasting the wind, fall over from their long sweep 
into the city. 

After dark we had an alarm of an attack in the rear, as 
we had had the night before ; and as we knew that there 
were some two thousand lancers near by, there was much 
bustle and preparation made to receive them ; but the alarm 
proved false. — About nine o'clock, our shells set fire to some 
of the buildings within the walls, and they burned with a 
lively flame, fanned by the stormy wind, and gave out a 
bright light, that glared on all the buildings, domes, and 
spires above, bringing them into strong relief against the 
dark sky beyond, and, with the lurid flashes of the artillery 
below, presented a scene of terrific grandeur. Then the fire 
burned down, and only black smoke arose from it, and all 
was gloomy and dark, save the flashes of the guns. We 
turned away from the strong blasts, in which we had been 
standing, gazing at the grand appearance, and, chilled through, 
sought our tents, where, thickly stowed to one another, and 
WTapped in blankets, we became comfortable, and lay quietly 
listening to the rushing wind and the ceaseless roar of the 
cannon, and dozed quietly off" to sleep, when suddenly came 
an order from Gen. Pillow, for four companies of the regi- 
ment to march to the beach, and drag up one of the sixty- 
eight pounders, for the naval battery. We passed down, 
and by the long rope attached to the heavy timber wheels, 
under which hung the w^eighty piece of artillery, we tugged 
and pulled, and, in our endeavors, sweat and blowed with it, 
as we passed over the sand hills up to the camp, and then on 
to the batter}'', which, by the roundabout way wc had to go, 
was nearly three and a half miles. It was the toughest sort 
of M'ork ; and, as we approached the place of the battery, 
had to be done in the stillest manner possible, to avoid discov- 
ery ; the bushes concealed the place from the view of those in 



524 LABOR AT THE NAVAL BATTERY. 

the city. By hard labor we got it there late in the night, and 
it was soon hoisted upon its carriage, and stood with its four 
companions, with their long black muzzles projecting through 
the embrasures in the embankment, which was thickly laid 
up of bags filled with sand ; the sides of the embrasures were 
covered with raw hides. — One more gun was lacking, which 
had been brought, by another detachment, as far as the camp 
at Malibran, but as the morning approached, it was stopped 
for the present; its carriage and plank platform, like the 
others, were ready for it, and we regretted that it could not 
be brought on; for by Gen. Scott's orders, not a shot was to 
be fired from the whole battery, or the least indication of 
its existence given to the Mexicans, until every gun was in 
position ; for this battery, when known to them, from its ele- ■ 
vated position would draw upon itself a heavy fire. It was 
to be manned entirely by seamen from the navy, which had 
furnished the guns, though detachments from the brigades of 
generals Pillow, Shields and Quitman, had erected the battery. 
— The naval officers and seamen were impatient for the other 
gun ; for, without it, the battery would have to remain silent 
during the next day ; and they had already brought the shot 
and ammunition. — So busy and hard at work had we been 
during the night, that we had scarcely noticed the firing, which 
from our side had almost ceased, and from the enemy had 
greatly slackened; nor had we perceived, till our task was 
accomplished, that the norther had spent its strength, and 
was now dying away. — Leaving the battery, with its five 
guns in position, in charge of the seamen, we were dismissed 
an hour before day, and finding our way back in the darkness 
to Malibran, we quickly stretched ourselves in our tents, and 
Avere soundly asleep. 

Wednesday, March 24(h. The fire, which had been slack- 
ened off" before daylight, as mentioned, was renewed by the 
enemy with vigor, and all his batteries were served with 
great rapidity, and shot and shell fell in showers over our 
lines. Our own, though keeping up the fire, did so slowly, 
for want of shells ; but every one of these fell within the city, 
and did fearful execution, as we learned from some deserters 
who escaped from there last night. — The naval battery being 



MOUNTING THE LAST GUN. 525 

much needed, and the ammunition for it, as said before, be- 
ing ready there, while that of the mortars was scarce, and the 
only remaining gun to be mounted in it being at Malibran, 
in front of the quarters of Gen. Patterson, Gen. Pillow, after 
examining the road, determined to run the risk, and take 
the gun to the battery in open day ; being urged to it, by the 
slackening fires of the mortars, and the vigorous cannonading 
of the enemy. This was a hazardous undertaking ; for, 
after proceeding over the hills about three-fourths of a mile, 
the way lay for several hundred yards, up along the side of 
the level railroad, in view of, and directly in front of one 
of the forts of the enemy, on the walls, the guns of which 
could bear directly down the road, and rake it for a mile. — 
Gen. Patterson, seeing the risk on one side, and the advan- 
tage, if successful, on the other, simply repeated to Gen. Pil- 
low the order of Scott, that the guns should be carried during 
the night, and remarked to him, that if he undertook it, that 
it would be on his own responsibility. Pillow, after noticing 
that the battery to which he would be exposed was almost 
constantly enveloped in smoke, from its rapid firing, and as 
the wind had ceased, judging that such a movement as he 
contemplated, would not be thought of, or watched for by the 
enemy, determined to carry it into execution ; and, ordering 
out a heavy detachment, the gun was taken over the hill 
to the railroad. Now came the trying time ; the road was 
level ; steep hills of chapparal were on one side of it, and 
the railroad on the other, and immediately in front, in the 
city wall, was the dreaded battery. — The detachment, with 
the gun, rapidly advanced up the road; the battery contin- 
ued discharging its cannon at the trenches on the right, and 
still the clouds of smoke settled over it ; once or twice this 
smoke blew away, so that it was clear for a moment ; but 
the enemy there not dreaming of so bold a move as an 
advance uncovered, up the railroad, paid no attention to 
the view of it. Again the battery was enveloped, as the gun 
advanced ; it reached the road to the right, up the hill ; turned 
into it; was concealed by the chapparal; was undiscovered, 
safe, and soon at the battery, to the great joy of the brave 
naval officers and the seamen, who had given up all hope of 



526 OPENING OF THE NAVAL BATTERY. 

opening the fire of the work until the morrow. — It was soon 
placed in position ; the chapparal in front, on the brow of the 
hill, was quietly cut down, and, to the astonishment of the 
Mexicans, so elated at the slackening fire of the mortar bat- 
teries, this opened its six pieces, with a terrific and well-di- 
rected discharge of its heavy shot ; which, especially the sixty- 
eights, made the stones and mortar fly from the buildings 
and walls — they crashed through blocks at a time, and a dif- 
ferent aspect was placed upon the day. All the Mexican 
batteries, that could bear, immediately turned their fire 
upon the new and destructive work ; which, now under 
the command of Capt. Aulick, second officer of the naval 
force, sent the heavy shot with such effect among them. — 
This it kept up for the remainder of the day; in the after- 
noon, under the command of Capt. Mayo. In a short time 
after it opened, four sailors within it were killed, two badly 
wounded, and Lieut. Baldwin slightly. The dead were taken 
off", down to Malibran {see picture). — The battery was much 
torn to pieces by the shot of the enemy. 

The storm having now subsided, the landing of shot, shell 
and mortars v/as resumed with spirit ; and all the afternoon 
the beach presented the busy scene before described, and the 
utmost efforts were made to supply the mortar batteries, 
Nos. 1, 2 and 3, under the direction of Col. Bankhead, called 
Worth's batteries, with shells, so much needed by them. 

At eleven o'clock. A. M., our shells set fire to some build- 
ings in the city, and dense volumes of black smoke arose on 
the air, contrasting with the w^hite volumes from the artil- 
lery below, along the walls, and increasing the grandeur of 
the scene. 

The Mexicans fought with great gallantry and bravery; — • 
their artillery was served in such a way as to excite the ad- 
miration of our officers, who universally remarked that it 
could not possibly have been better done ; and the only rea- 
son that their powerful fire was not more destructive among 
us, was the most excellent arrangement of Scott, for the de- 
fence of the men. — They tore the heavy embrasures of the 
naval battery, at which only they could get a chance, com- 
pletely to pieces. The fire from that battery had been di- 



MEXICAN FORTS. 527 

rected much against a fort opposite to it, called St. Barbara, 
— by our men called the " red fort," from the color of the 
buildings behind it. 

The Mexican flag above this fort was cut down by a ball. 
— Our troops in the battery and trenches stopped firing for a 
moment, and raised three cheers all along, the sound of which 
rose above the bombardment. The Mexican officers and 
soldiers jumped down on the outside of their fort, seized 
their flag, and, amid the heavy balls that again flew among 
them, held it to its place until it was lashed. — This gallant 
act excited the astonishment of our men. 

The fort to the eastward of it, or to the right as we face 
the city from the south, called by us, from its position " the 
railroad fort," fired most accurately. One gun, a twenty-four- 
pounder, was known by its peculiar sharp report, and the ar- 
tillerists so managed it, that the balls, rapidly following one 
another, struck the naval battery, entering the embrasures, 
and never missing farther than two or three feet. Our men 
called it " spiteful," and named it the " spit-fire." 

Another fort still farther to the east, along the walls, call- 
ed by our troops the " white fort," was close by the " Gate of 
Mercy," or principal entrance of the city ; (for a view of part 
of this fort, see plate of " Gate of Mercy," opposite page 
566). It was very active, and had not sufliered much; the 
naval battery not having any opportunity to pay its respects 
to it, having enough to do to answer the fire of the forts of 
St. Barbara and the " rail road fort." A mortar was between 
these two forts, by itself, and threw shells without intermis- 
sion, sometimes at the trenches, sometimes at the naval bat- 
tery, and sometimes over towards our camps at Malibran. 
One of its shells fell directly into the narrow trenches, about 
two o'clock, and stopped under the mouth of a mortar which 
had just been loaded, and its heavy shell lifted into it ; in- 
stantly exploded, wrapped the mortar in flame, ignited its 
charge, thus sending its shell high in the air, to fall into 
the city ; in the same instant tearing the heavy mortar, 
which could not have weighed less than two thousand 
pounds, from its firm timber bed, breaking the strong iron 
clamps that confined it, and sending the wdiole into the air, 



528 FORCE OF EXPLODING SHELLS. 

out of the trench, and forty feet back from it. — Most fortu- 
nately, the exploding fragments of thick iron passed up, in- 
stead of horizontally in the trenches, thus saving the lives of 
scores of men. — Some of the small pieces mortally wounded 
one man, and severely three others, — several slightly. Lieut. 
Arnold— who commanded the mortar, that thus, after doing 
its duty, by a continual fire for two days and nights, (begin- 
ning on the afternoon of the 22d), had most unceremoniously 
been thrown out of the trenches, — narrowly escaped with 
his life, and was left \vithout a gun. 

This was but an ordinary example of the force of an ex- 
ploding shell, but they are much more destructive when fall- 
ing in a confined place — such as the interior of a building. 
What, then, must have been the elfect in the crowded city, 
into which, though the firing last night and this day had been 
slow, the mortars have, in these forty-eight hours, thrown over 
two thousand of the ponderous missiles. These, from their 
high sweeps aloft, have descended with irresistible force on 
the stone tops of the buildings, passing through them and 
all the floors, and exploding below ; — or else falling into the 
streets and crowded squares, spreading death and destruc- 
tion among soldiers and inhabitants, men, M'omen and chil- 
dren, in one common sweep. But that is not all — for the 
musquito fleet has thrown in over a thousand more ; — not so 
heavy, but yet averaging sixty -two pounds each ; and most 
destructive are they in explosion and powerful in force, in 
their descent from their high elevations, in which they ap- 
peared almost to touch the lower clouds. And not only 
these, but the naval battery, this day, so far, has thrown 
nearly three hundred sixty-eight pound and thirty-twos, 
direct shot, which have produced a terrible efl!ect. 

Yet there is not the slightest appearance of surrender or 
slackening of the enemy's fire. — With a strong and efficient 
garrison, a massive built city, and the best fortifications in, 
around, and near it, on the continent of America ; with a 
most complete and heavy armament, and the utmost abun- 
dance of material of war — they seem determined to carry 
out the promise of Gen. Morales, to defend the place to the 
last ; their flags yet wave out in defiance, supported by their 



EFFECT OF BOMBARDMENT. 531 

ceaseless artillery. — They have probably fired about five can- 
non or mortars to our one ; or, during the two days, so far, 
near fifteen thousand shot and shells, besides an enormous 
number before our batteries commenced. The plain and the 
hills are covered with balls and fragments of shells, and the 
ground is torn, blown, and plowed up in every direction. 
The awful, constant roar of this artillery, and the sublimity 
of the scene, the reader can hardly imagine. 

Fort Santiago, on the water's edge, is a fine work, and 
its guns are most excellently managed. The magnificent 
castle in the distance belches forth its thunder, and sends its 
heavy shells over the lower part of the city, into our lines, 
without intermission. 

Now, reader, leaving this thunder of the artillery and 
gathering volumes of smoke, to relieve our minds, let us turn 
our attention to the more quiet scenes of camp at Malibran, 
represented on the opposite page. — This old building that 
you see, still strong in its ruins, was once a splendid place. 
It was constructed more than two hundred and fifty years 
since, by a Spanish count ; — was occupied by his descendants, 
as a palace, for several generations ; — then went to ruins, 
and so remains. — The walls, which surrounded the grounds, 
are now broken ; — some of them can be seen in the picture. 
That in the foreground, that runs around the lake, is nearly 
entire ; it has several round holes in it, which are earthen 
jugs set in : for, to help out in the material of building, in 
this section, the former inhabitants set rows of jugs, each 
filled with earth, in the walls, and plastered them around 
with mortar and stone, and from their shape and situation, 
they were strong and firm. Now, many of them are broken 
into, and the sand has run out. 

The water in front is part of the lake, which extends back 
towards the city ; for, in this picture, we are supposed to 
stand upon the wall, which ends in the water, with the city 
behind us. — Several sentinels are standing around the build- 
ing ; in the ruined arches of this are yet perfect stone rooms ; 
■ — these are the quarters of several of the officers. On the 
top of the ruins rises a singular and large species of ivy, 
which grows like a tree, finding no earth for its roots, which 



532 RUINS OF MALIBRAN. 

insinuate themselves in every crevice of the stone, and run 
up and down the sides of the ruin, within and without, cHng- 
ing with great tenacity. — The dead and wounded are brought 
in from the batteries, which are pealing away behind us. 

On the hill, to the right, are the tents of some infantry 
companies, while behind the building, and on the left, crow- 
ded together, are those of our regiment, and two companies 
of the second Tennessee. On the little hill over the tents, 
are a number of our men looking above our heads in front, 
at the bombardment. The top of the old ruins would be 
crowded with these also, but Gen. Patterson has forbidden 
the men to go up there, because they draw the shells of the 
enemy, who are ignorant, as yet, that this is his headquar- 
ters. These are in the building to the right, but little of 
which can be seen. The muskets of a company are stacked 
before it, and a sentinel is on post by them. On the left of 
the picture is an officer, coming at full speed from the head- 
quarters of Gen. Scott, bearing orders to Gen. Patterson. — 
Two sailors are riding little burros that they have picked up, 
and are exciting much sport. 

In the camp, the men are variously employed : — most of 
them are now up, having been asleep at times during the 
day, exhausted by the hard labor of last night and the night 
before, in the batteries. — Parties of them have been out to- 
wards the interior; have had a skirmish with a scouting party 
of Mexican lancers in our rear, and repulsed them, killing 
some few, and now have returned, loaded down with fresh 
beef that they have killed, and vegetables from the gardens 
of the ranches around, from which the families have fled ; 
they are engaged in cooking, and have entirely forgotten the 
horrors of the bombardment that is raging, and are laugh- 
ing, joking, telling tales, and enjoying themselves finely. — 
They were just now interrupted by one of the larger shells 
thrown from the city, which came with a loud noise, and 
caused them to dodge about the tents in an amusing man- 
ner ; but the falling shell burst in the lake, and the pieces 
flew, amid the smoke and mud, with sharp, long, singing 
sounds, far on every side, but fortunately touched no one. 

Some stop and appear serious for a moment, as they look 



APPEARANCE OF THE DEAD. 533 

at the mangled dead that lay under the arch of the buildings. 
One had a horrible appearance, that struck them particu- 
larly ; — he was a stout, muscular man, of perhaps forty years 
of age. A cannon ball from that excellent gun, with keen 
report, that has been mentioned, had entered the embrasure, 
striking him fairly on the right breast, tearing a terrible hole 
through him, and taking his lungs through his back. — He was 
dead in an instant. — His countenance had an expression of 
mortal agony upon it ; — his blear eyes gazed upward. — The 
wound was obscured with dirt and sand ; his hands were 
clenched, and his bloody hair streamed back. 

Two, that lay immediately along side of him, however, 
had smiles on their countenances, and one appeared to be 
in a sleep, with pleasant dreams, if we might so express it : 
for he was not mangled or torn. — He was neatly dressed, 
was young, of fine form and handsome countenance. A small 
piece of a bursting shell had entered his head, above his ear. 
He had bled but little, and died so quickly, that the laugh 
that he was giving utterance to, excited by an odd remark 
of his comrade, as they were assisting to fire the heavy can- 
non, was 3et depicted on his countenance. — That comrade, 
too, had the same expression, as he was killed at the same 
instant ; but he was most horribly mangled : — one piece of 
the shell had taken off the back and side of his head ; the 
brain was all out of the bloody skull, and sand was stuck 
thickly within, while the long hair that covered the remain- 
der was stiff with blood and dirt. — Another piece had struck 
his right shoulder in front, and had torn and mangled the 
shoulder, arm, breast, and ribs, in a hideous manner. The 
long strips of skin, of bloody, hanging flesh, of white sinews, 
ends of bones, and protruding vitals, with the torn clothing 
among them, and sand within him, was revolting to the eye ; 
and the laughing features seemed to mock the terrible, man- 
gled expression of death. 

The batteries of the enemy increased in rapidity about 
sunset, and kept up vigorously ; and, after dark, ours began 
to answer them more rapidly, for they had shells on hand ; 
and, as large trains of wagons now went to them, conveying 
part of the immense quantity that had been landed during 



534 FLAG OF TRUCE FROM FOREIGN CONSULS. 

the day, after the cessation of the norther, there was no fear 
of their exhausting the quantity ; and they fired freely, with 
a continual roar. 

Another fire was kindled by the explosions in the city, and 
burnt with brilliancy ; in and around the flame, our bombs 
came down from the long sweeps, in which their courses 
had been traced by the twinkling fuses, and brilliantly, with 
sullen roar, exploded in the midst. 

At nine o'clock, P. M., the fire of the forts and batteries 
of the enemy had slackened, and shortly after ceased ; and 
a sally of the garrison being expected, more troops were 
thrown into the trenches ; — but the cessation proved to be 
from another cause : — four foreign merchants came out with 
a flag of truce from the foreign consuls in the city to Gen. 
Scott, requesting a truce and suspension of firing, to enable 
the subjects of the powers of England, France, Spain, and 
Prussia, to leave the city with their families, &c. ; — the city 
was becoming too hot for them ; and their opinion was alter- 
ing with respect to the efiiciency of the bombardment. — We 
now heard definitely of the terrible destruction within the 
walls. 

No answer was returned this evening by Gen. Scott to this 
application, but every arrangement was made for carrying 
on the bombardment. Large quantities of shot and shells 
were landed from the fleet during the night, and the wagons 
were engaged during the same time in taking them to the 
batteries. Detachments of our regiment, and others, were 
occupied nearly the whole night, in repairing the damage 
done to the naval battery during the day, and in mounting 
the guns at a new battery. No. 4, which was between No. 5 
and the mortars. These guns, two sixty-eights, Paixans, 
and four twenty-fours, were all got ready, and amply sup- 
plied with ammunition ; and, at a late hour, the men detailed 
to work, after having filled and placed up two thousand bags 
of sand, returned to camp, and threw themselves down to 
sleep. 

Thursday, March 26th. Early this morning Gen. Scott sent 
back his answer to the communication of the consuls of 
England, France, Spain and Prussia, which he received last 



ANSWER OF GEN. SCOTT. 535 

night.* As this was a decided refusal to their request, no 
delay was made in the progress of the bombardment. The 
fire had slackened off during the night on both sides ; but di- 
rectly after daylight, Gen. Worth's batteries, 1, 2, and 3, 
mortars and cohorns, (smaller mortars), commenced the fire 
with great rapidity, having now plenty of ammunition and 
shells. The new battery, No. 4, finished last night, opened 
in fine style, and fired most rapidly, while the naval bat- 
tery, thoroughly re-fitted, was not behind, in pouring its 
heavy shot with the others, upon the devoted city. Already 
had great distress arisen within the walls. — Those who were 
at work in the darkness, on the naval battery, spoke, this 
morning, of the continual shrieking and wailing that rose 
from the city, on the stillness of the night, after the firing 
had ceased ; but now that distress rapidly accumulated : for 
three shells to one, and double the shot, were going in, — 

• answeb of gen. scott to the foheigk consuls. 

Headquarters of the Army of the United States, > 
Camp Washington,before Vera Cruz, March 25th, 1847. J 

The undersigned, Major General Scott, &c., &c., had the honor to receive (late last 
night) the memorial signed by the consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain, and P*rus- 
sia, in the city of Vera Cruz, requesting that the undersigned would grant a truce 
sufficient to enable the consuls and the subjects of those powers, together with Mexi- 
can women and children, to leave that city, now under a close siege and blockade. 

The undersigned deeply regrets the lateness of this application, for up to the 22d 
instant, the communication between the neutrals in Vera Cruz and the neutral ships 
of war, lying off Sacrificios, was left open, mainly to allow the neutrals an opportu- 
nity to escape the horrors of the impending siege, of which the undersigned gave to 
the consuls every admonition in his power. 

In respect to a truce, it must be evident, on reflection, that the undersigned cannot 
grant one, except on the application of the governor or commander-in-chief of Vera 
Cruz, accompanied by a distinct proposition of surrender. In the meantime, the siege 
will go on with increased means and rigor. 

That the unavoidable distress of the women and children in the besieged place had 
deeply engaged the sympathies of the undersigned, before one shot or shell had been 
fired by him in that direction, he begs to refer to the accompanying copy of his sum- 
mons, addressed the 22d instant, to his excellency the governor and commander-in- 
chief of Vera Cruz. His excellency chose to consider the castle of San Juan de Ulua, 
as well as Vera Cruz, to be included in that summons, and expressed his confidence 
in his ability to make a successful defence of both. 

The undersigned has the honor to tender to the consuls of Great Britain, France, 
Spain, and Prussia, the assurance of his high respect and consideration. 

(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT. 

To Messrs. Gifford, Gloux, Escalente, and D'Oleive, &c., «Scc., Vera Cruz. 



636 INCREASED VIGOR OF BOMBARDMENT. 

Ten large mortars, six smaller ones, six sixty-eight pound 
cannon, three thirty-twos, and four twenty-fours, were served 
in the most rapid and efficient manner. 

All the Mexican forts redoubled their energies, and from 
castle and city shot and shells were thrown in immense 
quantities. The scene became intensely interesting. — The 
air was filled with missiles ; the roar of so much ordnance 
in operation was deafening, nor was there the slightest in- 
termission. 

On this morning fatigue parties were set to cutting brush 
and making fascines, or bundles, with which to fill the ditch- 
es, in the final storming of the forts and city, with which 
Gen. Scott intended to close up the combat, if the city 
surrendered not. — All that were off duty crowded upon the 
sand hills, far and near, to view the scene, such as they had 
never before witnessed. — The day was warm and pleasant, 
and the air clear. — To get a good view, the author, with sev- 
eral others, proceeded towards the beach, turned to the left 
among the sand hills before he reached that ; crossed several 
of these, and stopped on the top of one from which the best 
view could be obtained of the whole scene ; and there was 
sketched the picture seen on the opposite page. 

Imagine yourself, reader, on this hill at this time, and the 
whole, though in the distance, and partly obscured by smoke, 
before you : but you can see enough of it : you are east of 
the city, and about a mile from it. — The lines showing the 
course of the shells art imaginary : for, in the day time, the 
shells themselves could not be seen, and in the night, could 
only be perceived by the twinkling of their fuses. You see, 
over the letters H and I, the steamer Vixen, and one of the 
small schooners of the musquito fleet, in the position they 
occupied on the afternoon of the 22d, when the bombard- 
ment commenced ; the other steamer, and four schooners, 
are still farther to the right. — You observe (over G) the wa- 
ter battery of the castle ; and, on the left of that, the castle 
itself, over F; in the distance, a vessel is out far beyond it. 
She is going around to Gen. Twiggs' position, which is out 
of view to the left of the picture ; — the water there comes 
round in a bay, and this vessel, to get to them with provi- 



VIEW OF THE SCENE. 539 

Bions, &c., is forced to go far off, to avoid the guns of the 
castle. 

On the left extremity of the castle is the light house, which 
is high ; — on the opposite quarter is an upper building : — the 
flag-staff rises there, with the Mexican flag upon it. You 
observe that the fire of shells is kept up from the main castle, 
and from the water battery also. — The strength of the whole 
has been alluded to. 

There is a shallow bank or reef of coral rock, which makes 
out from the right of the water battery some distance, called 
the Gallega shoal ; this prevents vessels from approaching it 
in that direction. — The vessel that you perceive, is beyond 
the extent of that. The castle is about one thousand yards 
from the city. — The water that you notice between them, 
is deep enough for the largest men-of-war; and, in times of 
peace, the whole space is filled up with vessels. 

To the left of the castle, and nearer to you, at the south- 
eastern corner of the city, over E, you see the fort of San- 
tiago, with a flag above it ; — this is strong, and the guns of 
it are now busy. To the left of that is another flag, at the 
custom house. To the left of this, over D, and nearer to us, 
is the commencement or eastern extremity of the trenches ; 
and over C is the cemetery, with its chapel in the centre. 

Gen. Worth's mortar batteries, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, are in the 
trenches, which run parallel with, and close to the w^alls of 
the cemetery, beyond them. The volumes of smoke arising 
from these obscure the city. To the left of this is the smoke 
of the new battery, No. 4, which has been mentioned as fin- 
ished last night. Farther to the left, over A, is the naval 
battery, sending out its peals and volumes. Over B is the 
Mexican fort of St. Barbara; over No. 4 is the "railroad 
fort ; " — the " white fort" is near the tall spire in the centre 
of the view. 

To the left of the picture, between you and the naval bat- 
tery, is part of the plain upon which the surrender of the 
Mexican arms afterwards took place, and at the lower part 
of this is the lake spoken of. In the foreground, you wit- 
ness a detachment of infantry, going to the batteries. — ■ 
You observe the hills of sand, some of which are bare, and 



540 VIEW OF BOMBARDMENT. 

some covered with chapparal. — Many of the men, that are 
off duty, are standing on the sand hills, gazing at the scene, 
while the castle has honored them with the presenta- 
tion of a thirteen inch bomb-shell, which has fallen on the 
little plain before you, close to that group of men, who 
were going to join their comrades on the hill, but who are 
now running away from the shell which has come among 
them ; one is endeavoring to scramble up the steep side of 
the opposite sand hill. — You perceive no troops, save those 
going to the trenches ; for these in the latter, and in the bat- 
teries, are all concealed from your view. 

You can obtain a more correct and definite idea from this 
engraving, of the position and appearance of Vera Cruz at 
this time, than you could from a dozen pages of description ; 
and from this same hill can also have a definite point in your 
mind, from which to judge of the position of the camp and 
fleet, not laid down in the picture : for, as you stand upon 
this hill and face the city, the sea is to your right hand, and 
the island of Sacrificios, the busy beach, and the fleet of 
ships laying off from it, is also to your right, as it were over 
your shoulder, — partly behind you. Directly in your rear, 
among the hills, are the camps of Gen. Worth's division, 
and Gen. Scott's headquarters. Behind you yet, and over 
your left shoulder, are the numerous valleys, in which are 
encamped the division of Gen. Patterson, or the brigades of 
generals Shields, Pillow, and Quitman ; — these go far off to 
the left ; and beyond them, and on the left of the city also, 
is the camp of the division of Gen. Twiggs, extending to the 
water's edge, at a little place called Vergai-a. 

On the beach, between you and fort Santiago, over the hill 
between E and F, is a small point, concealed from your 
view, called Punta de Hoj-nos ; and is the place where, after- 
wards, the capitulation was signed by the American and 
Mexican commissioners. — Now, reader, you have a correct 
idea of the situation of the city, castle, trenches, cemetery, 
batteries, fleet, beach, positions of troops, &c., &c. 

The unabated fire of the batteries and mortars, and the 
forts and castle, continued for the whole day, and the scene 
was terrific ; — no change took place until 3, P. M. Many 



ATTACK UPOIS COL. HARNEY. 541 

were killed and many wounded in the trenches; — and among 
them, Midshipman Shubrick was instantly killed in the naval 
battery, by a round shot ; — within the city the destruction 
was most terrible. 

At that hour, an alarm was raised of an attack in the 
rear, by a large body of Mexican lancers, who repulsed Col. 
Harney, with his dragoons, and one company of our regi- 
ment of cavalry, Capt. Caswell, who had attacked them ; and 
that officer, in command, now sent in to Gen. Scott for rein- 
forcements and artillery, stating the force of the enemy to be 
two thousand men, with two cannon. Gen. Pillow was or- 
dered to detach a force from his brigade, which was imme- 
diately done, by sending four companies of the first Tennes- 
see infantry, under Col. Campbell, four of the second Ten- 
nessee, under Col. Haskel, and four companies of our own, 
dismounted cavalry, and two pieces of artillery, under Lieut. 
Judd. 

And now, reader, as the author has to go with his com- 
pany, he will leave you for the present, to witness the bom- 
bardment, by which the city is suffering every moment, in a 
terrible manner, remarking only, that the foreign consuls, 
that so treated with contempt the previous warnings of Gen. 
Scott,* and chose to remain in the city and take their chance, 
and who sent the flag of truce last night, are now in a most 
uneasy position, and are endeavoring to induce Gen. Mo- 

* COPT OF SAFEGUARD. 

Gen. Scott, a week before the bombardment commenced, sent to each of the con- 
suls a " safeguard," as, in such cases, is authorized by the articles of war. The copy 
of one of these safeguards is here given : — 

" Whosoever belonging to the Armies of the United States, employed in foreign 
parts, shall force a safeguard, shall suffer death." — 55th Article of War. 

Safeguard. — By authority of Major General Scott, General-in-Chief of the armies 
of the United States, the person, the family, and the property of the French Consul, 
residing in Vera Cruz, his house, and its contents, are placed under the safeguard of 
the army of the United States. To offer any violence or injury to them is expressly 
forbidden ; on the contrary, it is ordered that safety and protection be given to him 
and them in case of need. 

Done at the headquarters of the army of the United States, this 13th day of 

March, 1847. 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 

By command of Major General Scott. 
H. L. Scott, A. A. A. G. 



542 EFFECT OF THE FIRE UPON THE ENEMY. 

rales to surrender the place, sending him, this evening, the 
answer they received this morning from Gen. Scott, accom- 
panied by the communication given in the note below.* 

We had an exciting and quite interesting fight this after- 
noon. — In the morning. Col. Harney, with the dragoons 
under Capt. Thornton, and Capt. Caswell's company of our 
regiment, under the immediate command of Major Sumner, 
was ordered by Gen. Scott to the southward, it being re- 
ported that a large force of the enemy were near us. The 
gallant colonel and his command fell in with the enemy at 
a stone bridge over a lagoon, called Puente de Moreno, and a 
fight ensued ; but as the force of the enemy was large, and 
their position too strong for him, reinforcements were sent 
for. We marched out at a quick pace, partly across chappa- 
ral hills, and then across small prairies, about nine miles, and 
went immediately into action, up and down the bank of the 
lagoon in the chapparal, and commenced firing at the bridge. 

The dragoons were drawn up in the rear. The firing be- 
came very sharp ; but, from the thick chapparal, together with 
the smoke, concealing our men, was not ver}' effective upon 
us ; but the balls cut the twigs and branches over and among 
us at a great rate, whistling loudly. The artillery fired grape 
shot at the fortifications that the enemy had thrown across 

* ADDRESS OF THE FOREIGS CONSULS TO GEN. MORALES. 

The undersigned, Consuls of the different foreign powers near the Mexican go- 
vernment, have the honor to address the general commanding the state of Vera Cruz, 
a copy of the reply which they have received from Gen. Scott, commanding in chief 
the army of the United States of the North, to the request which they made to him 
for a truce, to permit their respective countrymen, as well as the Mexican women and 
children, to leave the city of Vera Cruz. 

More and more afflicted by the disasters which this place has suffered during three 
days of bombardment, and desiring to accomplish, to the end, the duties of humanity 
imposed on them by the mission which they have received from their governments, 
and by their own personal feelings, they beseech Gen. Morales to have the goodness 
to interpose to Gen. Scott his support to a request so reasonable as theirs. 

They have the honor to renew to His Excellency the Commandant, Gen. Morales, 
the assurances of their respectful consideration. 

(Signed) T. GIFFORD, Consul of Her Brilannic Majesty. 

A. GLOUX, Consul of France. 
F. G. DE ESC AL ANTE, Consul of Spain. 
HENRY D'OLEIVE, Consul of His Majesty 
th^ King of Prussia. 



BATTLE OF MADELINE BRIDGE. 543 

the bridge, and after some twelve or fifteen rounds, knocked 
it down, and the order was given to charge ; and then, with 
a wild yell, that resounded far and near, we rushed towards 
the bridge in an irregular manner, the men of the three regi- 
ments becoming all mingled together. 

The enemy retreated, run, broke, vamosed, — the lancers 
going at full speed up the road, and the infantry taking the 
thick chapparal in every direction. Some were overtaken 
and killed ; and we pushed on in a trot after the main body 
of lancers. The dragoons being brought up by Capt. Thorn- 
ton, passed by, overtook them, and killed many more. 

After four miles' chase, we were halted by Gen. Patterson, 
who seemed to be in his right element, and extremely pleased 
with the spirit and conduct of the troops. He took off his 
hat, as he rode by us, after the pursuit was done, and, car- 
ried away by his enthusiasm, raised himself in his stirrups, 
and, as he swung his hat around, called out, " Hurrah for 
Tennessee ! ^^ which compliment, of manner and expression, 
from him, who commonly was so stern and silent, was im- 
mediately responded to, with ihree loud cheers for Gen. Pat- 
terson. — He rode along, with an approving remark to each 
company as he passed it. 

It was nearly dark when we commenced the return to the 
camp before Vera Cruz, about thirteen miles distant. The 
ranchos on the road, near the battle-ground, were all desert- 
ed. — The men took from them the chairs, blankets, &c., and, 
as the inhabitants were hostile, fired the buildings, as they 
returned. — The dead were brought in across horses, and the 
wounded on litters.* — We had lost but few, and killed some 
fifty or sixty of the Mexicans, — would have killed more, had 

• KILLED AND WOUNDED AT MADELINE BRIDGE. 

Killed — James H. Nicholson, corporal of company F, in action at Puente de Mo- 
reno, March 25th ; Hopkins, private, company H, 3d artillery, same place and 

time. 

Wounded — Lewis Neill, 3d lieutenant, adjutant; Joseph Marshall, private, com- 
pany B ; Jones, do., 2d dragoons, severely ; Hugh Gavin, private, Capt. Cheat- 
ham's 1st Tennessee, slightly; M. Foy, W. Ailes, privates, company A ; D. Vann, 
do., company C ; G. Woodly, do., company H, 2d Tennessee, slightly ; Thomas 
Young, guide, slightly ; W. T. Gillespie, company B, Lewis Geisele, company C, 
John Smith, company K, privates, 2d dragoons, slightly. 



644 EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT. 

they fought longer; but they had enough, and could not 
stand the wild charge. 

Thus ended the spirited little battle of "Madeline Bridge," 
as it is called, or of Puenic dc Moreno ; and here we are back, 
in fine spirits, but exceedingly exhausted. It was nearly 
midnight when we reached the camp. We found our bat- 
teries firing slowly, while those of the enemy were all silent. 
And so, reader, as we are about to throw ourselves down to 
sleep, we bid you good night. 

Friday, March 2Qth. At two o'clock this morning, the bat- 
teries re-commenced upon the city ; but only a few guns 
were fired from the enemy in reply to the numerous shells 
that rose, passed over, and fell within, more rapidly than be- 
fore, several new mortars having been added to those in op- 
eration yesterday. 

Another norther came down upon us, immediately after 
the firing commenced. This gale blew with more violence 
than any which had preceded it. — It whistled across the hills 
and plains, deadening the noise of the mortars. — As soon as 
it was light, the fatigue parties were again set to work, ma- 
king fascines and scaling-ladders for the final assault; — but, 
directly after sunrise, a flag of truce came from the city gates. 
The order to cease firing was sent to the batteries, by Gen. 
Scott. 

We now found, what we were confident of yesterday, that 
the bombardment had been productive of the utmost deso- 
lation within the walls, tearing the buildings to pieces, and 
sweeping hundreds, — soldiers, citizens, women and children, 
— into a common grave. — We learned that the destructive 
effects, sometimes of a single shell, had been tremendous : — 
that one had fallen, crashing through the stone side of a 
building, and exploded within, where a meeting of the citi- 
zens was being held, and killed and wounded scores of them 
in one bloody pile. — That the distresses of the citizens and 
private families could not be described ; — that whole families 
had perished by a single shell, that, in the same instant, by 
its explosion, had tumbled in the floors, roofs, stone and mor- 
tar, of their shattered mansions, upon their mangled bodies. 
— That there was safety nowhere ; — that the heavy stone 



FLACx OF TRUCE. 545 

roofs, SO much relied upon, were futile in defence : for the 
ponderous shells, from their height, had burst down through, 
crashing to the ground ; — that they had torn up the pave- 
ments, sending stone and iron in destructive showers through 
the streets. — That the churches were not safe ; — that the 
altars of these, around which the frightened M^omen had col- 
lected to pray for deliverance, had, in some instances, been 
the places where they were torn and mangled by the shells, 
that, loaded with destruction, crashed through the roofs.— That 
the round shot were terrific in effect, but the shells, from 
their falling in every part of the thickly crowded city, were 
far more so.— That last evening, so terrible had become their 
situation, the citizens united with the foreign consuls in ap- 
plication to Gen. Morales, and the soldiers to the same added 
their requests, being unable to stand longer against the mur- 
derous fire. — That, driven to desperation, part of the garrison 
formed in the night, on the outside of the city walls, to at- 
tack the batteries that were so destructive to them ; but not 
enough, to be successful, could be induced to join it, as they 
were well aware that the trenches were strongly defended, 
though the men therein could not be seen. 

Gen. Morales, not wishing to surrender, and to save his 
word, under color of sickness, resigned his command during 
the night, and thus devolved it upon the next officer. Gen. 
Jose Juan de Landero, who, at this earl}^ hour, hastened, by 
a flag of truce, to stop the horrors that were recommencing. 
— By this flag he sent the letter seen in the note below.* 

* GEX. LANDERO TO GEN. SCOTT. 

I have the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency, the exposition which has this 
moment been made to me by the Srs. Consuls of England, France, Spain and Prus- 
sia, in which they sohcit that hostiUlies may be suspended while the innocent 
famihes in this place, who are suffering the ravages of war, be enabled to leave the 
city, which solicitation claims my support ; and considering it in accordance with the 
rights of afflicted humanity, I have not hesitated to invite Your Excellency to enter 
into an honorable accommodation with the garrison, in which case, you will please 
name three commissioners, who may meet at some intermediate point to treat with 
those of this place upon the terms of the accommodation. 

With this notice, I renew to Your Excellency's attentive consideration, 

God guard Your Excellency, &c., 
On account of the sickness of the commanding general, 

[Signed by] JOSE JUAN DE LANDERO 

35 



546 APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS. 

The batteries remained silent, but everything was in pre- 
paration for a renewal of the fire. — The storm was now ra- 
ging with the utmost fury, and many of the vessels in the 
fleet at Sacrificios were unable to hold to their anchors; and 
as their chains parted, they went ashore on the beach. — 
Twenty-seven ships, brigs and schooners were thus ashore 
before night, with the waves dashing over them. This wind 
blew with such a hurricane force that no boat could float in 
the tremendous surf; — even the line of battle ship, Ohio, that 
lay proudly moored at the head of the fleet, was forced to 
send down all her upper masts and yards, and she ap- 
peared almost dismantled. — In consequence of this violent 
gale, the commander-in-chief found it impossible to commu- 
nicate with the commodore of the naval forces, as he wished 
to do upon this application of Gen. Landero ; and, after wait- 
ing some hours, he appointed his commissioners, and sent to 
the Mexican general the answer seen in note.* The time 

* GEN. Scott's replt to gen. lANDEno. 

Headquaktebs of the Aemy of the United States op Amekica, ) 
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, Marck'26, 1847. J 

The undersigned, Major General Scott, General-in-Chief of the Armies of the 
United States of America, has had the honor to receive a communication on the part 
of His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Vera Cruz, signed by 
the Senor General Landero, in vphich it is proposed to the undersigned, that he [the 
undersigned] should appoint three commissioners to meet an equal number to be ap- 
pointed on the part of the city of Vera Cruz, to treat of the surrender of that city 
and its dependencies, on terms honorable to the garrison of the same. 

The undersigned, not doubting that the proposition was made in good faith, has 
promptly given orders to all his batteries to suspend their fire upon the city of Vera 
Cruz, which cessation of fire will be continued, unless after a delay of thirty minutes, 
any Mexican battery shall continue or renew its fire upon the batteries or the lines of 
the army before Vera Cruz. 

The undersigned hastens to name, on the part of the United States of America, 
three commissioners — generals Worth and Pillow, and Col. Totten, Chief Engineer, 
all of the said army — to meet an equal number of commissioners to be appointed by 
competent authority, to treat of the surrender of the city of Vera Cruz and its de- 
pendencies, on terms honorable to the garrison. And the three commissioners named 
above will, in that delay, repair, under a flagof truce, to Puntade Homos, there to 
await the arrival of the corresponding commissioners on the part of Vera Cruz. 

It is expected by the undersigned that the commissioners will proceed, at once, to 
treat of the business jointly submitted to them, without unnecessary interruptions, and 
that the negociation will be concluded early in the present day. 

The undersigned has the honor to tender to the Senor Gen. Landero the assuran- 
ces of his high consideration and respect. 

[Signed] WINFIELD SCOTT. 



MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS. 547 

for a reply was restricted to thirty minutes. — Now was there 
the utmost curiosity in every regiment and company, to know 
what was going on ; and even at every tent, the only subject 
of inquiry or remark was concerning the passing flags of 
truce, and present events. 

Generals Worth and Pillow, and Col. Totten, proceeded 
up the beach to the buildings at the point Punta de Hornos, 
under the guns of fort Santiago. In a short time, three 
Mexican officers, with another white flag, issued from the 
lofty arched gateways of that fortress, and approached the 
same spot. Many polite salutations now passed, as though 
the parties had been most intimate friends for their whole 
lives, and only lived to be agreeable to each other. — The 
Mexican officers brought out Gen. Landero's reply to Gen. 
Scott, which is placed below.* 

The preparation for the assault still went on. The land- 
ing and transportation of shells, shot and powder, was stop- 
ped on account of the norther, which drove the waves in fu- 
rious breakers over nearly the entire beach ; and, so sudden 
and strong was its effect, that immense quantities of stores 
were overflowed and spoiled. — In camp, we crowded in our 
firmly pinned tents, to avoid the cold wind ; and thus the re- 
mainder of the day passed. — The commissioners returned at 
evening, not having come to any agreement, save to meet 
again in the morning. 

Saturday, March 21th. This was a lovely morning : — the 
norther had ceased, and the sun shone pleasantly. Every- 
thing was quiet in the city, batteries, and camp. — The com- 
missioners met again at Punta de Hornos, and the entire day 

* GEX. XANDEIIO TO GEN. SCOTT. 

Vera Cruz, March 26th, 1847. 
In virtue of your Excellency's having accepted the proposition for an accommoda- 
tion, which I made in a dispatch of this date, and in conformity with a reply which I 
have just received, 1 have the honor to inform you that I have named, on my part, 
Colonels Don Jose Gutierrez Villanueva, Don Pedro Miguel Herrera, and Lieutenant 
Colonel of Engineers, Don Manuel Robles — to whom I have committed competent 
powers to arrange the said accommodation, having the honor to add herewith a copy 
of said powers. 

I renew to your Excellency the assurances of my high consideration. 
God and Liberty. 

[Signed] JOSE JUAN DE LANDERO. 



548 APPEARANCE OF THE CEMETERY. 

was spent in their deliberations. — Let us, therefore, reader, 
take a look into the trenches — pursuing our walk from the 
sand hill, in the foreground of the picture, across the hills and 
valleys towards the cemetery, or campo santo, as the Mexicans 
term it. — As we pass over the hills, and come near, you are 
astonished in seeing how the ground is torn up by cannon 
shot and bomb-shells : the large balls lay thickly scattered 
around. — Many holes, each of size sufficient to bury a horse, 
are blown out, by the explosion of the shells that there de- 
scended. Large and small fragments of these shells are scat- 
tered everywhere about. The Mexicans have thrown shot 
and shells enough to kill a hundred thousand men ; and yet, 
so skillfully have our movements been directed by the gener- 
alship of Scott, that our loss is very small. — We approach the 
cemetery — pass around the left hand corner, and enter the in- 
closure through the lofty arched gateway. — On going in, we 
are struck with the appearance of destruction there exhibited : 
the walks and the graves are torn up, and skulls and bones 
are scattered around, by the numberless shells thrown here 
from the city and castle; the enemy thinking that part of 
our force was within it. The walls of brick, plastered over 
within and without, are riddled with so many large holes, 
that it was useless to attempt to count them ; and the brick 
and mortar from these, had been driven over the whole 
ground. — Here is an entire shell, whose fuse did not ignite 
the charge ; — it is in the ground, and you see but little of it. — 
The chapel, which is in the centre of the cemetery, is about 
forty feet square, with a brick dome, also plastered. You see 
this chapel in the picture. — Around the building is a wide, 
raised platform, of chequered marble, enclosed by a light bal- 
ustrade of masonry, which is mostly torn to pieces ; the mar- 
ble slabs are broken and thrown up by the shells. — Within 
the chapel we observe a fine sculptured structure of white 
marble ; it is broken, and covered with the mortar and pieces 
of brick that have fallen from the dome above, and the sides 
of the house, as the cannon shot have coursed through it 
again and again. The large door of the chapel, towards the 
city, has over a dozen cannon shot holes in it. — The marble 
Jfloor is covered with rubbish ; and the wardrobes for the fu- 



SEPULCHRES OF THE DEAD BLOWN OPEN. 549 

neral trappings and dresses for the priests, are splintered into 
thousands of fragments. — The eastern wall of the cemetery, 
or the right hand one seen in the picture, is of such thickness 
as to be divided into four rows of cells like ovens, above each 
other, on the same plan as is adopted in New Orleans. — In 
these cells are the bodies of the more wealthy placed. — You 
observe that the cannon shot, coming slanting from the city, 
have opened the ends of many of these, and left the corpses 
and skeletons exposed. It is not a pleasant sight to view 
them. — You perceive that they were buried in their or- 
dinary clothing. — Do you notice that pair of feet, with 
boots on, sticking nearly out of the hole made by a cannon 
ball that ranged along, opening a dozen or more of these 
sepulchres? — Many of the soldiers are peeping about in the 
cemetery, and looking into these cells ; but the sight of death, 
or his mementos, are nothing to them : — hardened, careless, 
and indifferent by habit, the appearance of dead men pro- 
duces no more effect than that of so many dead animals. — - 
Hear that dare-devil, humorous looking volunteer, as he calls 
out to another : " I say. Bill, don't you believe these chaps 
thought the resurrection day had come, when that 'ere can- 
non ball raked open their holes ? D-n-d if I don't think 
they were getting ready to sing, ' Hark ! from the tombs.'" 
So little is human life valued by the older soldiers, that no 
one is affected by these sights. — Some, of the new regiments 
that have just come out, walk round, and appear serious ; but 
they, too, will be equally careless after a while. — But let us 
look at the marble slabs that close the vaults which have not 
thus been rudely broken into. We see that many of them 
are finel}'' sculptured. Observe this one, of black marble, 
on which Life is represented as a fragile vase of beautiful 
flowers — Death as a wolf, who jumps upon it ; and it is fall- 
ing over, to be crushed under his tread. 

Having seen enough of the interior of the campo santo, let 
us go out by the gate by which we entered, and a few steps 
bring us to the farther wall, under which run the trenches. — • 
Here are piles of balls and shells lying on the edge of them , 
and near are several small brass cohorn mortars, which have 
the English crown upon them, and the letters G. R. — Geor- 



550 SCENES IN THE TRENCHES. 

gius Rex (King George). These were taken at the surrender 
of Burgoyne, during the revolutionary war, and are yet good 
as ever ; and, after being used in the last war, against their 
former masters, are sent here to fight Mexicans with. — Look 
into the trench : it is six or seven feet wide — eight or nine 
where the mortars are placed. You perceive the embank- 
ment is thrown towards the city ; and, in the deep trench 
thus sheltered, you do not wonder that the troops have been 
so secure. Look along in it : — you see it full of infantry, 
seated, patiently awaiting the issue of the negotiations for 
a surrender. You observe the numerous black mortars on 
their beds, ranged along, with the match-rope slowly burn- 
ing by each : and piles of loaded shells arc near ; while the 
artillerists are leaning on the destructive pieces, chatting and 
laughing, ready, at any moment, again to send the ponder- 
ous missiles into the city. — Let ue go down into the trench : 
it is quite a jump ; and now we are in among the crowded 
men. — Look at this mortar before us, which, firmly placed in 
its bed, is on a platform laid down for its support ; its muz- 
zle slants upward. Take out the wooden mouth-piece, and 
you see the shell lying in there : it is heavy, and required 
two men to lift it in. You perceive that four small wedges 
are placed around it, so that it does not press tight to the 
interior of the mortar ; for, if it did, the fuse, which is on the 
upper side, would not catch as it went out ; but the wedges 
causing a small space to be left, the flame from the charge 
wraps around the shell as it is sent out, and fires the fuse, 
Mdiich burns as it goes. — You observe that the fuse plug is 
of wood, large enough to fill the hole in the shell, being about 
an inch and. a half thick at the larger end, and tapering to an 
inch; being, when whole, about nine inches long ; it has a 
simall hole drilled lengthwise through it. — This hole is filled 
with the fuse combustible, which is black and hard — appear- 
ing something like the lead in a pencil ; and is about as large 
as a common pencil itself. The tapering plugs are marked 
into inches and tenths, so that they may be accurately sawed 
off" to the length they are required to burn. If the shells are 
to go but a short distance, a small quantity of powder is put 
into the mortar, and the fuse is cut oft' in proportion ; so, for 



SCENES IN THE TRENCHES. 551 

a greater distance more powder is added, and the fuse is left 
longer. So well have our artillerists done this, that of the 
thousands of shells* they have thrown into the citj^, very 
few have burst before they had crashed through the build- 
ings ; and almost every one, then, has immediately exploded. 
— Let us pass to the mouth of this magazine near, which is 
a deep hole in the trench, covered with "a slanting double 
roof of plank and timber, upon which are three tiers of large 
bags, filled with earth or sand, to protect it from the bombs 
of the enemy. Near the magazine door, in which set the 
powder-men, are a number of shells, loaded, with their fuses 
driven in them. These men inform us that they filled every 
shell with three pounds of first-rate powder, and that the 
mortars were at first loaded with two and a half pounds, to 
send the shells to the walls ; then two and three-quarters, 
three, three and a half, three and three-quarters, and at last 
four pounds were used for a charge ; and that these different 
charges were used at the same time, in order to distribute 
the deadly missiles over the city, — thus bringing all within 
it into the same terrible condition. 

Turning to the left, we follow along the crowded trench, 
and, working our way by the mortars, shells, and through 
artillerists, and supporting infantry, we soon come to battery 
No. 4. We find no shells here, but abundance of the heaviest 
kind of shot; — the large cannon stand on the high platform, 
with their muzzles sticking out of the embrasures towards 
the city, into which they have already vomited so man}' de- 
structive missiles. — We find the artillerists here ready to 
renew the firing ; the infantry are stretched out, some asleep, 

* Shot and shell thrown into the city of Vera Cruz, during the bombardment, ou 
the evening of 22d, the 23d, 24th, 25th, and morning of 26th March, 1847 : 
■wokth's batteries, wos. 1,2, 3, 4. 

3000 ten inch shells 99 lbs. each, 

500 round shot 25 " « 

200 eight inch howitzer shells 68 " " 

NAYT BATTEUr, NO. 5. 

1000 Paixhan shot 68 lbs. each. 

800 round shot 32 " " 

MUSaUITO FLEET. 

1200 shot and shell, averaging 62 lbs. each 

Making in all, 6,700 shot and shell, weigfiing 463,600 lbs. 



553 



APPEARANCE OF THE BATTERIES. 



others engaged in conversation, wondering whether they will 
have another chance at the city. 

When leaving this battery, we pass still farther to the 
left ; we come out of the trenches on the plain ; crossing 
that, as well as the railroad, w^e ascend the hill, on the top 
of which is the naval battery, over A in the picture. — This 
hill, like many of the others, is covered with a species of 
musquit, of which the sharp thorns are several times as large 
as the twigs on which they grow ; and they are so singular, 
that the author has placed below a drawing of a small 
twig, bearing them. 




TWIG OF MUSQUIT : SPECIES FOUND NEAK VEKA CKUZ. — NATURAL SIZE. 

After climbing the hill, and working through the thorny 
chapparal, we arrive at the naval battery. — Here, too, the 
heavy cannon were all loaded and aimed, ready to fire the 
moment hostilities may be re-commenced. The seamen that 
man this battery are in groups around, as are the supporting 
infantry. The sailors are having much sport to themselves, 
and wish that the " bloody Mexican land-lubbers," as they 
call them, may hold out a little longer, to give them a chance ; 
(for this battery has a change of seamen every twenty-four 



VIEW OF THE CITY FROM NAVAL BATTERY. 553 

hours, and those now at it have not had an opportunity of 
firing).* % 

We notice that the battery is much torn to pieces : for, 
from its situation, being so high and exposed, it has drawn 
many of the shot from all the forts, and well has it answer- 
ed them. On its opening, the Mexican batteries directed 
most of their fire at it, for nearly the whole day ; — but this 
had been foreseen, and it had been made verj'' strong. 

From this we can look directly into the town ; but nothing 
appears there to be in motion, save the bodies of Mexican 
soldiery, who are parading about to the strains of their mar- 
tial music, or else thickly crowded in the shattered forts, busy 
in repairing them with bags of sand ; but the battered build- 
ings above and around them cannot be so repaired ; they 
present, when viewed with the glass, an appearance of utter 
destruction. 

And now, reader, we have endeavored to give a particular 
account of the batteries, as well as of the occurrences of the 
siege, though thousands of circumstances accompanying it 
must, for want of space, pass unrecorded. At five, P. M., the 
capitulation was signed by the commissioners, and we learn- 
ed that the city was to be given up on Monday, the 29th. — 

* The naval forces which had been so long before this place had, during the bom- 
bardment, manifested the greatest desire to have a part on shore, and this battery had 
therefore been assigned to them ; it was manned in turn by detachments from the 
vessels. Iliese vessels of war now before the city were — 

Ship of the line Ohio, Capt. Stringham, 74 guns. 

Frigate Raritan, Capt. Forrest, 44 

" Potomac, Capt. Auiick, 44 

Sloop Albany, Capt. Breese, 20 

" John Adams, Com. McKinney, 20 

" St. Marys, Capt. Launders, 20 

Steamer Mississippi, Commodore Perry, 10 

" Princeton, Commander Engle, 9 

" Spitfire, Commander Tatnall, 8 

" Vixen, Commander Sands, • 8 

Brig Porpoise, L. Com. W. E. Hunt, 10 

Storeship Relief, Lt. Com. Bullus, 8 

" Supply, 8 

" Fredonia 8 

Steamers Petrita, Hunter, and Scourge, ■ . . — 

Schooners (musquito fleet) Bonito, Petrel, Reefer, Tarapico, and Falcon, — 



554 CAPITULATION SIGNED BY COMMISSIONERS. 

The terms on which the city and castle were surrendered are 
given in the note below.* 

March 28th. We have endeavored to find out the loss of 
the Mexicans within the city, during the terrible bombard- 
ment, but it is not known to themselves ; of course it can 
never be definitely ascertained by us. Their calculations 
of it vary from twelve to fifteen hundred. — Our own loss, 
killed and wounded, during the regular operations of the 
siege, falls a little short of eighty, all told. The names of 
those that fell at Puente de Moreno have before been given. 
The list of the others is contained in the note on page 556. 

Beside those mentioned, there were, also. Midshipman 
Shubrick and fifteen seamen of the navy, killed and wounded. 
— With so little loss of life amid such terrible and long-con- 

PuNTA DE UoRXos, (williout the Walls of Vera Cruz). } 
Saturday, March 27, 1847. ) 

Terms of capitulation agreed upon by the Commissioners, viz : 

Generals W. J. Worth and G. J. Pillow, and Col. J. G. Totten, chief engineer, on 

the part of Maj. Gen. Scott, General-in-Chief of the armies of the United States, and 

Col. Jose Gutierrez de Villaneuva, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Manuel Robles, and 

Col. Pedro de Herrera, commissioners appointed hy Gen. of Brig. Don Jose Juan 

Landero, Commander-in-chief of Vera Cruz, the castle of San Juan dc Ulloa, and 

their dependencies, for the surrender to the arms of the United States of the forts, 

with their armaments, munitions of war, garrisons and arms. 

1. The whole garrison or garrisons to be surrendered to the arms of the United 
States, as prisoners of war, on the 29th inst., at ten o'clock, A. M.; the garrison to be 
permitted to march out with all the honors of war, and to lay down their arms to such 
officers as may be appointed by the gcneral-in-chief of the United States' army, and 
at a place to be agreed upon by the commissioners. 

2. Mexican officers shall preserve their arms and effiicts, including horses and horse 
furniture, and to be allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the rank and file, 
five days to retire to their respective homes, on parole, as hereinafter prescribed. 

3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in article 1, the Mexican flags of 
the various forts and stations shall be struck, saluted by tb 'ir own batteries, and im- 
mediately thereafter the forts Santiago and Conception, and the castle of San Juan de 
Ulua, occupied by the forces of the United States. 

4. The rank and file of the regular portion of the prisoners to be disposed of, after 
surrender and parole, as their general-in-chief may desire, and the irregular to be per- 
mitted to return to their homes. The officers, in respect to all arms and descriptions 
of force, giving the usual parole, that the said rank and file, as well as themselves, 
shall not serve again until duly exchanged. 

F>. All the materiel of war, and all public property, of every description, found in 
the city, the castle of San Juan de Ulua and their dependencies, to belong to the 
United States ; but the armament of the same (not injured or destroyed in the further 



SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 555 

tinued discharges of artillery, has Gen. Scott thus taken the 
city of Vera Cruz and the strong castle of San Juan de Ulloa, 
that even now, on the ground, we are surprised at the result. 

Most anxiously are all throughout the camp waiting for 
the approach of to-morrow, which shall place us in posses- 
sion of these formidable strong-holds. 

March 2dth. This has been a day of triumph to the Amer- 
ican army, which will long be remembered by every one 
whose fortune it was to witness the imposing scene. — The 
morning was calm and tranquil, the sky clear, and the sun 
rose in unusual splendor ; not a breath of wind was there 
even to display the flags, with which the shipping was deco- 
rated, or those which hung over the castle and forts of the 
city. No sound could be heard from within the walls. Our 

prosecution of the actual war) may be considered as liable to be restored to Mexico 
by a definite treaty of peace. 

6. The sick and wounded Mexicans to be allowed to remain in the city with such 
medical ofticers and attendants and officers of the army as may be necessary to their 
care and treatment. 

7. Absolute protection is solemnly guarantied to persons in the city, and property, 
and it is clearly understood that no private building or property is to be taken or used 
by the forces of the United States, without previous arrangement with the owners, and 
for a fair equivalent. 

8. Absolute freedom of religious worship and ceremonies is solemnly guarantied. 

[Signed in duplicate.] W. J. WORTH, Brig. Gen. 

GID. J. PILLOW, Brig. Gen. 
JOS. G. TOTTEN, Col. and Chief Eng. 
JOSE GUTIERREZ DE VILLANUEVA. 
PEDRO MIGUEL HERRERA. 
MANUEL ROBLES. 
Capt. Aulick, appointed commissioner by Uoin. Perry on behalf of the navy, (the 
General-in-chief not being able, in consequence of the roughness of the sea, to com- 
municate with the navy until after commissions had been exchanged), and being pres- 
ent by Gen. Scott's invitation, and concurring in the result and approving thereof, 
.hereto affixes his name ar.d signature. 

J. H. AULICK, Capt. U. S. N. 

Headquarters of the army op the Umted States. ) 
Camp Washington, be/ore Vera Cruz, March 27, 1817. J 
Approved and accepted : 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 
M. C. PERRY, 
Commander-in-Chief of U. S. naval forces in the gulf of Mexico. 

Vkra Cruz, Marzo 27, 1847. 
Aprobad y aceptado : 

JOSE JUAN DE LANDERO. 



556 SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 

batteries and trenches were still manned with their full 
number of troops and seamen, and the guns remained loaded. 
— At an early hour the drums were beat in the encampments 
of Worth's and Patterson's divisions, and all their troops 
mustered to take part in the ceremonies of the approaching 
surrender. — The author, to obtain the best view of the whole, 
left the camp and took his position on the naval battery; 
which, though a little distant from the plain below, on which 
the Mexican army were to march, yet commanded a line 
prospect of the city, the castle beyond it, and the fleet at Sa- 

LIST OV KILLED AND WOUJJDED AT THE SIEGE OF VEBA CRUZ. 

UNDER GENERAL WORTH. 

Killed—}. B. Vinton, Captain 3d artillery, on the 22d March ; John Iluffner, private, com- 
pany B, 2tl artillery, 2Gth March ; Nicholas Burns, private, company B, 24th March ; 

, musician, 21st March. 

Wounded — James Foster, Sergeant, company G, 3d artillery, March 23d, severely; W. B. 
Hunt and Emile Voltarat, privates, company B, 2d artillery, 24th March, sliffhtly; Adolphe- 
Mnihe, John Uolding and Wm. Henderson, privates, company D, 2d artillery, 22d March, the 
two last named slightly, the other his left arm shot ofl"; Ernest Krunse, Owen Boate, William 
Cartilage, Joseph S. Hayden and Archibald McFadger, privates company F, 2d artillery, the 
first on the 20th and remainder on the 24th March, slightly ; Martin Dignant, private, compa- 
ny G, 2d artillery, 22d March, slightly ; S. D. Schuctzenback, private, company A, and Edward" 
Fleming, private, company 1, 8th infantry, 23d March, slightly. 

L'.VDER GENERAL TWIGGS. 

Killed — Wm. Alburtis, Brevet Captain 2d infantry, March 11th, by a cannon ball ; AVm. R. 
Blake, Sergeant company F, 4th artillery, March 15th; Robert T. Cunningham, private, com- 
pany A, mounted riflemen, March 11th. 

Wounded — W. B. I>ane and Edward Harris, Sergeants, company D, mounted riflemen, 
March 24th, severely ; John Teluna, private, company E, mounted riflemen, March 24th, 
severely; Frederick Warren, private, company C, mounted riflemen, March 24th, slightly ; 
Henry Niell, slightly, and Thomas Weller, severely, privates, company B, mounted riflemen, 
March 11th; John Rose, musician, company B, 1st artillery, severely ; James Stephen, pri- 
vate, company F. 4lh artillery, March 14th, severely ; Spencer, corporal, company D, 2d 
infantry, March 11th, severely. 

rNBER GE>fERAL PATTERSON. 

Killed — John l\Iiller and Gothlet Reip, privates, company G, Isl regiment Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, the first on the 17th, and the latter on the 2.5th March. 

Wounded — Lieut. Col. J. P. Dickinson. South Carolina regiment, severely; private Ballad; 
severely, privates Coke, D. Phillips, and Hiekt-y, slightly, all of South Carolina regiment; Q, 
M. Sergt. B. F. !\TcDonakl, severely, Sergt. Jos. King, slightly, privates T. J. Scott, severely, 
Henry Lanbeck, slightly, John G. Eubank, severely, all of Georgia regiment — all on 11th of 
March; Sergt. John Hejison, company E, 1st Pennsylvania regiment, March 9th, slightly; 
privates O. Burden, Wm. Vandenbark, and Andrew Keamer, company I, Jas. Stevens, com- 
pany J, all of 1st Pennsylvania regiment, private Fry, company D, 2d Pennsylvania regi- 
ment — all on 11th of March, slightly ; private Mark Fose, company A, 2d Tennessee regi- 
ment, 25lh March, slightly ; private John Hubbard, company A, 1st Tennessee regiment, 
during bombardment, sliglitly ; Sergt. R. Williamson, company C, 1st Pennsylvania regiment, 
11th March, slightly ; private Daniel Harkins, company A, Isl Pennsylvania regiment, (on 
. picquet), slightly. 

In addition to these, were killed on tlie 28th, of the New York and Pennsylvania regiments 
— Rev. W. H. T. Games, Robert Jeff, George W. .'Miller, Benjamin Fane, Hardin, Wil- 
liam H. Kearney, and several others, whose names are not ascertained, were lassoed, shot,, 
stabbed, and all horribly mutilated, by the enemy. 



SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 557 

•crificios, as well as the whole extent of the plain from the 
city walls, back as far as Malibran. — The different regiments, 
with their colors flying, moved upon the ground about nine 
o'clock, and formed in two long lines, facing each other, a 
mile or more in length. At the head of these lines, about 
half a mile from the walls, were placed the rocket and 
howitzer company, under Capt. Talcott, with its six small 
field pieces, so as to rake the foreground, in case of any 
treachery ; the matches were lighted, and the men were 
ready for such an event. The mounted dragoons were 
drawn up in the rear of Worth's line, and a large detachment 
of seamen from the navy were near. The music bands of 
the army were at their stations, but were wholly silent. — 
The view of these large bodies of troops, thus placed, was 
in itself of much interest. — Gen. Worth was conspicuous at 
the head of his column, from his brilliant uniform and long, 
waving plume. — The sea-breeze shortly began to blow gen- 
tly, and the numerous banners floated gaily in it. — At ten 
o'clock, precisely (according to the terms of the capitulation), 
a single light volume of smoke burst out from the castle, and 
rolled off over the water. The report announced that all 
was ready. Immediately the Mexican bands within the city 
struck up their loud music, and with drums, fifes, clarionetts 
and bugles, swelled the concert. As they finished, the fort 
of Santiago commenced a salute of artillery, in honor of the 
Mexican flag still waving above it. As the last cannon of 
this was fired, the flag was hauled down, and at the same 
moment descended all the others, which had been flying at 
different points above the city. The gates were thrown 
open, and the head of the Mexican army emerged therefrom, 
accompanied by loud music, and battalion after battalion 
swept out under their banners ; they appeared soldier-like, 
as they moved towards our lines, with shouldered muskets 
and free step, while the rays of the sun glanced upon their 
bright arms. Their movements were made with precision 
and concord. Their officers paid the same attention to these, 
as though they had been on parade. Some of the regiments 
were clothed in brilliant uniforms of green, trimmed with 
red ; others in blue, trimmed also with red ; others in light 



558 SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 

dress, nearly white, with red pompons ; and, taking them 
altogether, they made a much more imposing display than 
did the same number of our troops in their plain blue. — First 
came the column of regulars ; then followed the National 
Guard. Crowds of women came out, loaded with baskets, 
children, household furniture, and almost every other con- 
ceivable article. These camp-women, thus burdened, fol- 
lowed contentedly, and seemed more like the slaves than the 
companions of the soldiers. They waited on them, bringing 
them \vater, &c. Most of these were by no means attractive 
in their appearance, although some were indeed handsome 
in countenance, and with good forms. — The platoons of regu- 
lars moved on with a free step, to their music, and coming to 
the space between our lines, were halted, wheeled into line, 
and, at the command, stacked their muskets regularly, and 
hung over them their bayonet-scabbards and cartridge-boxes ; 
their numerous colors, drums, and musical instruments, were 
alike placed down ; and then, at the renewed order, the dis- 
armed platoons moved off and gave room for other coHimns 
and other bands, M^hich still were pouring from the city gates. 
This scene continued for two hours, during which no music 
but that of the Mexican bands could be heard. Not a word 
was said by the American troops to the disarmed bodies, as 
they passed down the lines towards Madeline. After the 
army came a miscellaneous crowd of citizens, officers, priests, 
and camp-women ; wounded and sick soldiers ; and in the 
throng were carts, each drawn by three mules abreast, con- 
taining the women and children of the officers ; also, litcras, 
a kind of covered box, with shafts each way, supported by 
a mule before, and another behind ; in these were entire 
families. Other carts were loaded with various articles, and 
many mules were packed with bulky bundles. None of 
these things were interrupted, but all were allowed to pass 
without hindrance ; — every soldier had something besides his 
full knapsack ; and every camp-woman was loaded like a 
mule. The officers themselves were on fine steeds, splen- 
didly caparisoned. One officer seemed to have much money, 
for it took four soldiers to carry the litter containing it upon 
their shoulders. Every officer retained his sword ; and one 



SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 559 

company of soldiers, in number about forty, marched down 
the lines with their muskets shouldered, not stopping to 
stack them. They, by previous arrangement, had been per- 
mitted to retain these, in order to guard a gang of convicts, 
who had been confined in the castle, and w^ere now taken 
with them. — Toward the last of the long procession came 
a body of dismounted lancers, dressed in their uniforms of 
green. These laid their escopetas and lances on the ground, 
and in regular order followed after the dense crowd that had 
preceded them. — On the countenances of the soldiers, not- 
withstanding the firm step and martial bearing, Avith wdiich 
they swept down the plain, could be seen an undefined ex- 
pression of doubt and anxiety, especially as they came 
before the artillery of the rocket and howitzer company, 
which bore upon them, looking threateningly. — A bare sketch 
of the vast crowd that continued to pour out from the gates, 
is all that can be given in this compass to the reader. 

The officers generally were fine-looking men, of light com- 
plexion, and exceedingly polite in their manners ; saluting 
our generals with their drawn swords, as they passed. The 
soldiers were of every grade of color. — When the rear of the 
conquered army had emerged from the gate, three companies 
of the 3d and 4th regiments U. S. artillery, with their field- 
pieces and colors, commenced the march for the gate, with- 
out music, passing along the column of JMexicans, who with 
shouldered arms were still advancing. They soon arrived 
there, and passed through ; one company going down to 
take possession of Fort Santiago, the other to the Castle. 
— Shortly after, the whole of the Mexicans laid down 
their arms, and the throng of stragglers that followed, had 
passed on. — As yet not a sound of music had been heard 
from our lines. Our troops were motionless, and a few mo- 
ments of suspense took place. — All eyes were directed to 
Fort Santiago, watching for the appearance of the American 
flag. — The musquito fleet of the two steamers and five 
schooners, could be seen to glide gracefully in between the 
city and castle. — Suddenly the flag looked for arose to the 
top of the staff, and unrolled its stars and stripes to the breeze, 
and, at the same instant, the guns below it, which had been 



560 SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ. 

belching their thunders against it, spoke out as clear for its 
honor, and announced that the city was ours. — Simultane- 
ously with its discharges, came a full salute from the field- 
pieces on the plain, another from the batteries, still another 
from the musquito fleet in the harbor, and one also from 
every vessel of war at Sacrificios. The first glimpse of the 
flag as it rolled out, was the signal for all to fire together ; 
and their mingled roar appeared to shake the hills. The 
whole fleet was completely enveloped in smoke. — When 
this grand discharge had ceased its thunders, the bands of 
music commenced, and the strains of " Hail Columbia," rose 
in power on the air, and the enthusiasm of the American 
army was aroused to its highest pitch. Gen. Worth's divi- 
sion was put in motion : dragoons, artillery and infantry, 
swept by, to the quick and inspiring national air of " Yankee 
Doodle ;" and thus they entered the city. 

The impressive scene closed with the entrance into the 
gates of the heavy column. — The other troops were marched 
back to their encampments and dismissed, and the general 
exclamations of all were of the events of the day, and the 
wonder expressed was, whether they should ever see the like 
again. 

The Mexicans had all gone, and the surrounding country 
was full of them, as they pursued their various courses, 
— some north, some south, — carrying in every direction the 
news of their defeat. — At the gates of the city were imme- 
diately placed sentinels, to prevent the entrance of anymore 
soldiers, — Gen. Scott being fearful of disturbance or disorder. 
Many of the soldiers, however, anxious to see the city, en- 
tered, through the breaches battered in the walls. On ap- 
proaching these, we were struck by the preparations that had 
been made for defence against an assault : — deep holes were 
dug along in three parallel lines, with lance heads set in the 
bottom ; — a thick growth of prickly pear was within these. 
At every distance of two hundred yards, the solid stone forts 
stood out from the walls. We entered into the " railroad 
fort." — Six heavy cannon were there ; — piles of shot lay 
near each; — the rammers, sponges, &c., were laid across 
them, as the artillerists had left them in the morning. — 



APPEARANCE OF CITY WHEN TAKEN. 561 

Blood had stained the whole place, where the Mexican sol- 
diers had fallen at their posts ; — bags of sand had been 
placed upon the breaches of the walls. 

We passed out of this, inside of the battered city wall, 
along the wide avenue between that and the buildings, to 
the next fort, — or the " red fort," as we called it, — which had 
done so much injury to our batteries, and received so much 
in return. Six heavy cannon of brass, cast in Spain a hun- 
dred or more years ago, — in 1707, 1750, 1694, &c., — were 
here ; — the cannon shot, rammers, &c., lay as in the other, 
and with them several large boxes of congreve rockets, and 
piles of grape and canister shot. Some of these guns had 
been injured by our fire, and the battlements of the fort were 
torn down, but had been rebuilt, during the intervening time, 
■with bags of sand. Large stains of blood were on the whole 
area. 

Turning from this, we passed down to the fort of Santiago. 
This was much larger than the others ; was battered, but not 
so much as the city wall or other forts. 

We turned into the streets, and a scene of destruction and 
desolation was before us. — Bombs had fallen thickly, making, 
in their descent, large holes in the pavements ; and the ex- 
plosions that had followed, had thrown the ragged pieces of 
iron, and the round paving stones, through the sides of the 
buildings, doors, and windows, tearing and crashing all be- 
fore them. Very many had fallen, too, upon the stone and 
tiled flat roofs, which had failed to protect the interior : for 
the ponderous shells had torn and descended, through the 
rooms and the floors, to the basement. The eflect of their 
explosions was terrible. — The floors, and in many instances 
the stone walls, were lifted, crashed, and all fell in — a mass 
of timbers, plank, plaster, stone and brick — upon the man- 
gled inmates. 

The streets were covered with heaps of broken walls) 
plaster, and brick ; heavy pieces of exploded shells were 
scattered in and about their deep, torn out beds.— In all the 
southern part of the city the heavy cannon shot had ranged 
in straight lines, doing terrible execution ; — whole sides of 
stone blocks had fallen before them. The interiors of some 
36 



562 APPEARANCE OP THE CITY AFTER SURRENDER. 

of the churches were ripped and torn in a scene of confusion 
and destruction difficult to imagine. The chequered marble 
floorswerethrown up, the images were broken and scattered, 
the plastering tumbled in ; and in one, a shell had taken off 
the head of an image of Christ upon the cross. 

We were looking within the walls of a fine, two story, 
lofty building, and observing the complete havock made 
by a bomb, when a Mexican woman came by, (the first that 
we had seen within the walls : for the streets were nearly 
deserted). Throwing up her hand from under her reboso, 
and fixing her eyes upon us, with a wild and terrified look, 
she exclaimed, " Muchas bombas Americanos ! mui malo, mui tcT- 
riblc .'" (multitude of American bomb-shells ! very bad, most 
terrible !) — and, after gazing upon us for a moment, with 
grief and terror depicted in her countenance, she passed on. 

The owner of a large store invited some of us to follow 
him into the second story of his buildings. In a room, on 
the shelves, a great quantity of China and Liverpool ware 
had been stowed. Many large and splendid looking-glasses 
had been hung up around. On one side of the apartment 
had been a range of costly furniture, — tables of the richest 
mahogany and rosewood, secretaries and sideboards, with 
black and white marble slabs on their tops ; Grecian chairs, 
&c., &c. 

Into this costly collection a heavy bomb, breaking in an 
instant through the thick roof, which the owner had fondly 
believed to be proof against them, had descended and explo- 
ded; and the complete destruction of everything, with the 
fallen quantities of plaster and stone, could not be justly 
described. We were struck with amazement. The owner 
contemplated the scene for a moment, and pointing upwards 
to the large hole, through which we could see the blue sky, 
exclaimed, " bomba .'" and throwing his hand around towards 
the heaps of property, so shattered in an instant, repeated, 
*' mucho malo ! mucho jnalo ! " and shook his head despond- 

ingly. 

The city had been well prepared to resist an assault. 
— The parapet walls of the houses, around the roofs, had 
been piled higher with sand bags. Ditches had been dug in 



APPEARANCE OF THE CITY AFTER SURRENDER. 563 

every street, and embankments placed before them, with 
cannon pointed over them. The streets, near the city w^alls, 
were barricaded with posts ten feet high, set in the ground. 
Quantities of hand grenades, or small bombs, to light with a 
a match, and throw down upon troops in the streets below, 
had been carried up to the tops of the houses. And we found 
that, in addition to the force within, every citizen had been 
fully armed from the public arsenal, thus nearly doubling 
the force for defence. 

But their calculations were destroyed by our shower of 
bombs, against the effect of which there had been no protec- 
tion. They were miserably disappointed in the manner of 
attack ; and now, some of the English and French, who had 
remained within the city to witness the slaughter of our 
troops, in the expected assault, and who had suffered most 
grievously in their families and property, by the shells and 
shot, had the impudence to complain most bitterly of it, 
saying that Gen. Scott, when directing them to leave the 
city, did not inform them that he was going to bombard it ; 
as if they expected our general to tell them and the Mexi- 
cans the plan of his future operations. They refused to 
leave the city when they might have done so ; and, un- 
doubtedly, many of them had anticipated the pleasure of 
popping at us from behind the parapet walls of their high 
stone buildings, or dropping hand grenades, to burst among 
our troops in the streets below ; — they remained at their 
own peril. 

Gen. Worth was immediately appointed governor of the 
city and castle, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. 
— Ten thousand rations of bread, rice, beans, and meat, 
were ordered to be distributed among the poor of the city, 
who crowded to receive this unexpected bounty, given by 
those, who but a day or two before, were destroying them by 
hundreds. 

The vessels were removed from the anchorage at Sacrifi- 
cios, to the harbor of the city. — The custom-house was open- 
ed, and business commenced. — A Mexican printing-office was 
hired, and a newspaper, styled the " Vera Cruz Eagle," soon 
made its appearance. The rancheros came into market, with 



S64 REVIVAL OF BUSINESS IN VERA CRUZ. 

provisions and vegetables to sell ; the burreros with their 
jackasses, to resume their business, of bringing in wood, 
coal, &c. — The stores w^ere re-opened ; and many American 
establishments were added, the goods of which had, until 
then, been on board the vessels in the harbor. Immense 
quantities of stores were landed in the city, and placed in 
security. — The castle and city were thoroughly cleaned up, 
the rubbish taken away, and the citizens, finding them- 
selves secure in person and property, began rapidly to re- 
build and repair their immense damages. The fondas, or 
eating-houses, were opened ; the religious services, in their 
great variety, were carried on ; one of the first of which was 
afuncion, or religious thanksgiving, to show their gratitude 
to the saints, that their city had been surrendered to " los 
Americanos," before it had been entirely destroyed, and its 
inhabitants cut off by the terrible bombas. 

The inhabitants who had fled, began to return ; and in 
less than a week Vera Cruz was in a more brisk and thriv- 
ing state, as it regarded business, than it had been for years. 
The American soldiers, who garrisoned the forts and castle, 
were found to be less oppressive than those of their own na- 
tion. — Money was plenty, labor wanted ; a market for every- 
thing, their lives and property safe, their religion respected, 
and in its ceremonies Gen. Scott, himself, took a part, much 
to their surprise and gratification; and no one would have 
judged the Americans and Mexicans, that were now mingled, 
buying and selling from each other, to have been, but a few 
days before, deadly enemies ; but so it was. — Such stores of 
goods and merchandise had been sent by the vessels, that 
anything needed, could be bought almost as cheap as in 
New Orleans. 

The camps of the troops of Worth's and Patterson's di- 
visions, were brought up near the city. Gen. Quitman's 
brigade, of the Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina troops, 
with Lieut. Steptoe's artillery, were sent off to take Alvara- 
do, about thirty miles to the south-east; while a powerful 
naval force, under Com. Perry, of the frigate Potomac, the 
steam frigate Mississippi, the sloop-of-war St. Marys, the 
steamers Spitfire, Vixen, Water Witch, the brig Porpoise, 



EXPEDITION AGAINST ALVARADO. 565 

one bomb-ketch, and the five schooners of the musquito 
fleet, sailed to make, in conjunction with Gen. Quitman, 
this third attack on Alvarado. — But Com. Perry having 
sent the little steamer Scourge, Lieut. Hunter, to lie off the 
port, that officer receiving from the authorities propositions 
for a surrender, accepted them, and hoisted the American 
flag over the place, and also over another small town above, 
to the utter astonishment of the commodore and his officers, 
when the fleet arrived, and no less so to the army of Gen. 
Quitman, when they came before the place.* 

Col. Harney, with his dragoons, made a descent upon the 
town of Antigua, eighteen miles north of Vera Cruz, and 
took the place, capturing a number of lancers, and much 
ammunition and arms. — The navy, to atone for the loss of 
the anticipated active operations against Alvarado, project- 
ed, and carried into execution, shortly after this, an expe- 
dition against the town of Tuspan, about one hundred and 
thirty miles to the north-west of Vera Cruz, defended by 
Gen. Cos. After some brisk fighting, they took this town, 
and, with its fall, the whole of the eastern coast of Mexico, 
bordering on the Gulf, came under the power of the United 
States. — But we are getting ahead of our subject. — A little 
to be said of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan de 
Ulloa, now in our possession, and we leave this city for the 
next scene of action, in the interior, now approaching to the 
vital part of Mexico. 

Vera Cruz, or " the true cross," is a closely-built city, en- 
tirely surrounded by a wall ; without which is a barren sand 
plain, save on the south, where is a dilapidated part of its 
former extent, and a stone walk for pleasure, called the Pas- 
co. The streets are regular and well paved, with sidewalks 
of smooth cement. The houses, mostly of two lofty stories, 
square, with court-yards within, as has been described at 
Tampico. There is not a garden, or a tree, or a single green 

• For this act Lieut. Hunter was arrested by Commodore Perry, tried by a court- 
martial, and sentenced to be reprimanded and sent home; which was done. — But the 
President of the United States, not agreeing with the proceedings of the commodore, 
complimented Lieut. Hunter for his conduct The expression of public opinion was 
also in his favor and a splendid sword was presented to him for the act. 



!566 CITY OF VERA CRUZ. 

leaf of shrub or plant, or vacant spot of ground from the 
city wall on one side, to the same on the other. It is a 
heavy mass of stone, brick, and mortar, throughout ; and is 
like a vast citadel surrounded by its heavy fortifications. It 
has a splendid aqueduct, built in 1725, for supplying it with 
water from the interior. It is most liberally furnished with 
churches ; not all of which, however, are used. The oldest 
one, built in 1630, can partly be seen in the view opposite, 
taken by the author, of the Gate of Mercy, or principal gate 
on the southern side of the city, and the same out of which 
the Mexican army marched to the surrender. The reader 
can see there, the railroad, which runs but a few miles into 
the interior, made thus far by English capitalists ; the car, 
with the cannon-ball hole through it ; the road, torn up by 
the explosion of shells, — shot, and pieces of shell around ; a 
iurrero, driving in his two jacks with coal ; a Vera Cruz cart, 
with three mules abreast ; — beyond is seen the double gate, 
one of our wagons going in, and the sentinels there; on the 
left of it some tables, at which the Mexicans sell pulque, 
pine-apples, oranges, &c. The walls and the buildings are 
battered with shot, though, directly at this spot, they did not 
suffer very much. The shell that entered the dome of the old 
church above the window, did much damage in the interior, 
and killed several women that were praying within to the 
Virgin Mary. The building, seen only by its interior corner, 
on the extreme left, was the barracks for the troops ; but it 
was so riddled through in hundreds of places, by our shot, 
as to be untenable by the Mexicans during the bombardment. 
On the right, are seen two guns of the " white fort." In the 
cart are a couple of women, with their rebozos drawn over 
their heads. — On entering this gate, you come directly into 
a crowded street. — The materials of which the walls, the 
buildings, the aqueduct, and the whole Castle are constructed, 
is a porous, hard, coral rock, which is obtained from the 
reefs in the harbor, before mentioned. Their lime, for mortar, 
is burnt from the same rock. — Vera Cruz has always enjoyed 
most of the foreign trade of the city of Mexico, and would, 
from its position, be a much larger city, but for its poor 
harbor, exposed to the northers, (being only protected from 



CASTLE OF SAN JUAN DE ULLOA. 5G9 

their force by the reefs and castle), and its fatal yearly visits 
of yellow fever or vomilo. 

The castle of San Juan de Ulloa* is built on a small island 
opposite the city. The weaves beat against its massive walls 
on every side but the north-east, where is a small beach. — It 
is divided within into three separate fortresses, with canals 
between, which are crossed by draw-bridges ; (for view of one, 
see frontispiece). It is of immense strength; — the walls are 
from fifteen to eighteen feet thick, of solid stone ; — the Hat 
roof, supported on arches, is nearly as thick. — The area on 
the top of this is so extensive that thousands of infantry 
and squadrons of cavalry might parade upon it. There is a 
large plaza in the interior or main fortress. — On the top, and 
in the water batteries, or lower forts, the cannon are ar- 
ranged along in formidable rows ; — there are many sixty- 
eight and eighty-four-pounders among them, and several 
mortars. Magazines are placed in various parts of the large 
extent. The whole fort covers between seven and eight 
acres. — Its full complement of cannon is three hundred and 
seventy; complete garrison, two thousand fiive hundred men. 
In the plaza below, or paved square, and the courts and 
streets, it resembles a city, with its lofty houses around. — 
On the top, one is struck with its extent, magnitude and 
strength. 

Its water tanks are filled by the rain which descends on 
the extensive stone area above. These tanks hold a suffi- 
cient quantity to serve the whole garrison for two years. — 
Its immense arches below; its subterranean apartments; its 
large square; its extensive canals, fine bridges, thick walls, 
solid roofs, and its excellent adaptation for defence, and its 
durability, (for one cannot see why it should not remain a 
thousand years), excite wonder and astonishment in the 
mind of the beholder. The magazines were filled with pow- 
der : its plaza piled with shells and shot. 

Many of its guns are of old Spanish and French manufac- 
ture, and are beautifully carved, and most have upon them 
the name of Philip V, of Spain. This castle was commenced 
in building near two hundred and eighty years since; — has 

* A ditiputed word — sometimes spelled " Ulloa," and at otltcrs, " Ulua.' ' 



670 CASTLE OF SAN JUAN DE ULLOA. 

been improved and built upon continually since, or until the 
Spaniards lost it ; — has cost upwards of fifty millions of dol- 
lars, according to the accounts of the different expenditures ; 
and now, with an American garrison in it, it would bid suc- 
cessful defiance to the navies of the world. To describe it, 
so as, part by part, to bring it fully before the reader's mind, 
would take a volume of hundreds of pages. A correct view 
of its outside appearance from a distance, to the south, is 
shown in the picture of the bombardment. 

The Spaniards held possession of it eighteen months after 
they had lost the city opposite, and, in fact, every foot of 
land in Mexico, save that ; and even then were starved out. 
The Mexicans might have set at nought all our efforts to 
take it, had they been supplied with provisions, and been 
willing to abandon the city to its fate ; for Gen. Scott refused, 
at last, to accept the surrender of the city without the castle ; 
and, while the garrison of the latter had laid in sufficient 
powder, shot and shells, for a siege of years, they had not 
provisions in it for more than a few weeks. 

And so had fallen the city of Vera Cruz before American 
arms ; one castle, the strongest in America ; nine other forts, 
well mounted with artillery ; over four hundred good pieces 
of cannon and mortars, of every calibre, and an abundance 
of ammunition for them ; near six thousand stand of mus- 
kets, and many other arms ; and five thousand prisoners, 
besides inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

We were not allowed much rest in Vera Cruz, for Gen. 
Scott had determined on an immediate advance towards the 
city of Mexico ; but he was delayed in his operations for a 
few days, by the want of transportation. — Mules enough 
could not be procured, and those sent from the United States 
were slow in arriving. 

While these events of the investment, bombardment and 
capture of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa 
had been carried on. Gen. Santa Anna, upon whom all the 
hopes of the Mexicans depended, had not been idle ; but, 
after reaching San Luis Potosi, about the 5th of March, on 
his return from his bloody battle with Gen. Taylor, at Buena 
Vista, remained there only a few days. — Spurred on by the 
difficulties that surrounded him, — the actual existence of a 
revolution in the city of Mexico, raised by Gen. Pena y Bar- 
ragan, against the power of Gomez Farias, the vice presi- 
dent, who held the reins of government, — by the descent 
of Gen. Scott upon Vera Cruz, of which he was previously 
aware, from the captured dispatches, — he left San Luis on 
the 14th of March, and attended by two brigades of infantry 
and one of cavalry, commenced his movement for the city of 
Mexico, leaving a force at San Luis, and another, under Gen. 
Minon, on the road between that place and Buena Vista, to 
oppose any onward movement that Gen. Taylor might pro- 
ject. He had previously sent four thousand of his veterans, 
under Gen. Vasquez, to the seat of government. 

His reception at the towns on his route was that of a tri- 
umphant conqueror ; — deputations from Congress met him 
to congratulate him on his glorious achievements : — the mu- 

(571) 



5t3 ENERGETIC MOVEMENTS OF GEN. SANTA ANNA. 

nicipal authorities of the towns vied with one another in 
endeavoring to do him honor, so completely had the whole 
people been deceived with regard to his action at Buena 
Vista. New recruits, in crowds, joined his standard, eager 
to march against the Americans, to accomplish other glorious 
actions. 

He arrived near Mexico on the 20th March, having, a week 
previous, written letters to Gomez Farias, and to Gen. Barre- 
gan, the chiefs of the opposing factions in the capital, to sus- 
pend all hostilities until his arrival ; and which direction by 
each had been obeyed. He took the oath of office, as Presi- 
dent of the Republic of Mexico, on the 23d, and, reconciling: 
both the contending armies, united their forces to his own. 
He impressed many wagons and atajos of mules into his 
service, and at the head of his army quickly marched by the 
national road towards Vera Cruz, adding to his force the 
troops at Puebla, Perote, and Jalapa. At the latter place he 
borrowed from the alcaldes twenty thousand dollars, to pay 
to his force. He made a stand with his army, then swelled 
to thirteen thousand men, with forty-two pieces of artillery,, 
at the pass of Cerro Gordo — a strong position, about sixty 
miles from Vera Cruz, and twenty-seven from Jalapa. 

This pass, which had before been the scene of contest, 
in their civil wars, as well as in that between Mexico and 
Spain, had always been regarded as impregnable to an attack 
made by an enemy advancing from the coast, and as impos- 
sible to be turned.* The heights, here overhanging the road,, 
already strongly fortified, he farther strengthened, and placed 
in position his pieces of artillery. His right was protected 
by a ravine of several hundred feet perpendicular depth, and 
his left by the height of Cerro Gordo ; his front was covered 
with hills, among which the road lay for miles, and came up 
through his centre, between the heights, and was thus ren- 
dered utterly impassable. Here he waited, to prevent the 
advance of Scott, confident of victory, from his position, sit- 
uation of artillery, and amount of force. No stronger place 
could have been found. — He was not obliged to wait long, 

* Santa Anna's vindication, published at the city of Mexico soon after the battlo- 
of Cerro Gordo. 



SANTA ANNA'S ESTATE. 573 

as the sequel will show. — In the interval, let us speak of 
this section of country. 

The land upon which Santa Anna had now posted him- 
Gelf, belonged, as private property, to him. His vast estate 
comprehends the whole slope of the mountains, from Jalapa 
to Vera Cruz, near ninety miles, including, in one sense, the 
land of the torrid and of the temperate zones ; for, as land 
rises, the air becomes cooler, and at Jalapa is almost like that 
of a perpetual spring. On the lower part of Santa Anna's 
estate, towards Vera Cruz, in the tierras calicntcs, or hot lands, 
can every rich fruit of the torrid zone be produced : oranges, 
lemons, limes, figs, pine-apples, zapotes, tunas, anonas, ba- 
nanas, plantains, cocoa-nuts, and sugar-cane ; while upon 
the tierras templadas, or temperate lands, flourish corn, cotton, 
small grains, and the fruits and flowers of the temperate 
zones. The oak, the sycamore, and the other forest trees to 
which he is accustomed, meet the eye of the northern soldier 
in every direction ; the air is cool and balmy ; the dreaded 
vomito, or yellow fever, that so rages in the tierras calientes, 
never reaches here. 

On this large estate, the Mexican chieftain has three prin- 
cipal haciendas ; one in the hot regions, eighteen miles from 
Vera Cruz ; a stone building splendidly furnished, roomy and 
capacious, with marble floors, &c. This is called Manga de 
Clavo. — Another is near the Puente Nacional, or National 
Bridge, about half way to Jalapa. — The scenery around this 
is of the most wild and romantic character ; the bridge and 
fort overlooking it, has been the scene of many a combat and 
bloody fight, between the Spaniards and Mexicans, the differ- 
ent factions of the Mexicans themselves, and lately between 
the guerilla forces and small bodies of American troops.* — 

* THE NATIONAL liniDGK. 

The bluff from which this picture was taken is of perpendicular rock, about two 
hundred feet in height. The mountain torrent, or the Rio Antigua, as it is called, 
rushes against the base of this rock, and turns off to the left around it. The bridge 
is of solid stone, of magnificent proportions and structure ; and will remain, unless 
forcibly destroyed, for ages. — Near the foreground of the picture, not shown therein, is 
another fort, the guns of which, when in position, bear down upon the bridge, and 
upon the road, as it descends the opposite hill. On that slope perceived, the Mexi- 
cans afterward defeated the detachment of Captain Wells, by means of cannon 



574 HACIENDAS OF GEN. SzVNTA ANNA. 

A view of the bridge from the rocky bluffa on the lower 
side, is given on the opposite page ; and the hacienda of 
Santa Anna, spoken of, is seen on the right, though the large 
village near it, is concealed by the rocks, that the artist who 
sketched it from the author's drawing, has piled up too freely 
there. 



THE NATIONAL nOAB TO TUF. CITr OF MEXICO. 

on the high fort seen on the hill, and also others on this bluff; — their cross-fires were 
terrible. — After that event, it was found necessary — what at first should have been 
done — to place an American garrison in the works. Since this, the guerrillas do not 
come near it. This national road has been by some travelers described as one most 
miserable ; but this representation resulted from the fact of their starting from V^era 
Cruz in the night, in the diligencia, or stage, and going at a rapid rate ; the road, in 
places, being out of repair, they were jolted exceedingly. The truth is, that the road 
was, originally, and would be now, with small repairs in paving, the best on the con- 
tinent of America. — One who marches slowly along it, is astonished at the magnitude 
of the whole work ; hills are dug down, and the valleys filled up ; every water-course, 
and even little brook, is spanned by a magnificent bridge, which, even the most com- 
mon ones, exceed, in stability and beauty, anything of the kind to be found in the 
United States. — Let the traveler, instead of rolling in the close coach, take his horse, 
and ride over the road at his leisure ; descend the ravines, and pass under the magnifi- 
cent arches below, and he will be astonished at the work. — The traveling public of the 
West are familiar with the stone arch over the canal at Louisville, Ky.; but that does not 
compare with any one of the arches of the splendid national bridge, seen in the view. 
Though from the height which you are supposed to look down upon that, these appear 
much lower than they really are. Every object of nature around is upon such a 
vast scale, that one does not perceive the immense strength and size of the bridge, 
until he is on or under it — This road, when first it leaves the citj' of Vera Cruz, passes 
over the level, loose sands that surround that city ; after three miles it enters the chap- 
paral-covered sand hills ; eight miles distance through these, brings one upon it to the 
little town of Santa Fe, in the midst of a beautiful, undulating country : eighteen miles, 
to Manga de Clavo, a section more hilly, wooded, green, and fertile, with many 
ranchos scattered about. — It now begins to ascend, and, at the national bridge, winds 
among wild hills, more barren and sterile; beyond this, it rises continually, ranging 
around the bases of the mountainous hills, until, by a rapid and circuitous rise, near 
Cerro Gordo it leaves the hot lands, and enters the temperate regions, but among 
scenery so rugged and mountainous, that there are but few ranchos or inhabitants. It 
continues rapidly to rise, until, at Encerro, it passes through a fine grazing country, 
where sheep and cattle are innumerable, in the undulating pastures, which are enclosed 
by stone walls, of miles in extent. Still rising, and passing through the town of Jalapa, 
it brings one to a most lovely country ; and then pursues its course towards the city of 
Mexico. For its whole extent it is paved, or covered with tuuaslaie rock, which, 
when pulverized, makes a macadamized road of the finest kind. If the pavements 
were repaired in some places, it would, as said before, be the best road in America. 
The cost of it to the Spanish government was immense. The Mexicans have don© 
nothing to it of benefit. 



MARCH OF THE AMERICAN ARMY TO THE INTERIOR. 577 

Santa Anna's third hacienda is at Encerro, a few miles east 
of Jalapa, and in the temperate regions. By varying his resi- 
dence from Manga de Clavo or Encerro to the other, only 
about sixty miles apart, on the same road, he enjoys as 
much variety of climate, change of scene and air, and view 
of thg different productions of the earth, as one would find 
in traveling from Maine to Florida. He can suit himself. 
If at Manga de Clavo he is weary of the rich fruits and hot 
sun of the torrid zone, one day's ride takes him to the medium 
clime at the national bridge ; or another to the healthful, 
temperate, grazing region about Encerro. — His haciendas are 
all beautiful. That at Encerro appears to be the more richly 
furnished ; while the stock of fine wines, &c., into which our 
men dipped, at Manga de Clavo, showed that he had laid up 
much for use there. 

Between Encerro and the national bridge, at the supposed 
impregnable hills of Cerro Gordo, as before said, he awaited 
with his hosts, to give battle to Gen. Scott. 

Four days after Vera Cruz was taken, on April 3d, the latter 
general issued orders to his army to prepare for the march 
to the interior, stripping themselves of all extra baggage, 
and leaving all tents behind, save three for each company for 
sick, wounded, and protection of arms, in case of rain. On 
the 8th of April, the second division of regulars, under Gen. 
Twiggs, commenced the march towards Jalapa, all anxious 
to leave this sickly climate, before which, already, many 
were falling ; — the hospitals were filled with sick, and the 
dreaded scourge, the vomito, began to make its appearance.* 

On Saturday, April 10th, two days after the departure of 
Gen, Twiggs, the large division of volunteers under Gen. 
Patterson, followed. — These were the first and second Ten- 
nessee infantry, under colonels Campbell and Haskell, and 
one company of our regiment of cavalry, Capt. Caswell ; the 
first and second Pennsylvania regiments, colonels Roberts 
and Wyncoop ; and Capt. Williams' independent company 

* There was less spirituous liquor drank at Vera Cruz than at any other town we 
took ; the soldiers being afraid of its effects in the sickly climate, and moreover being 
particularly cautioned to abstain from its use by the officers, both general and inferior.. 
Even the old soakers took but little stronger than wine ; claret was freely used. 
37 



578 GEN. QUITMxVN'S BRIGADE BRINGING UP THE REAR. 

of Kentuckians : — forming the brigade of Gen. Pillow, (the 
remainder of our regiment being left behind, on account of 
our horses not yet having arrived) ; and the third and fourth 
regiments Illinois, under colonels Forman and Baker ; and 
the New^ York regiment. Col. Burnett, composing the brigade 
of Gen. Shields. 

On Monday evening, the 12th, (two days after this), Gen. 
Scott and his staff left, with an escort of dragoons. — On the 
next day, (Tuesday, the 13th), the whole division of Gen. 
Worth, with field artillery, followed with part of the siege 
train of heavy artillery. 

On the same day that Gen. Scott departed, the large fleet 
of frigates, sloops of war, armed steamers and schooners, — 
in all sixteen vessels, — sailed, as before mentioned, to attack 
Tuspan. 

On Sunday, April 18th, the remainder of the forces. Gen. 
Quitman's brigade, marched for the interior, bringing up the 
rear of the army, and leaving as a guEird in the city and 
castle the first regiment regular infantry and two companies 
Louisiana volunteers. Gen. Quitman's brigade was com- 
posed of the Alabama regiment. Col. Coffee, the Georgia re- 
giment, Col. Jackson, and the South Carolina regiment. Col. 
Butler, with four companies of our regiment of cavalry. Col. 
Thomas, the horses of the remaining companies not yet hav- 
ing fully arrived. — The horses of our companies, which now 
started, were in fine condition, having been well attended to 
at Tampico, and having had a short passage from thence. 

The brigade marched rapidly, for we had heard of the po- 
sition of the enemy ahead, and wished to be in the battle ; 
but we were too late, for the battle was fought on this day, 
and our brigade had none of the work, save a little skirmish- 
ing with guerrillas along, who had killed the stragglers of 
the other divisions.* The mutilated bodies w^e found here 
and there on the road. In these skirmishes three of our 

* These guerrillas lay concealed at every bridge, and fired upon any small parties 
of our men that passed. — Sergeant Tucker and four men, of the regular dragoons, 
came daslung into camp late in the night, carrying an express of the news of the battle 
of Cerro Gordo to Vera Cruz. Hundreds of shots had been fired at them; they 
were closely pursued to near our sentinels, and three of the men were bleeding freely 
from wounds received. — We were amused at one of our men, A. G. McCandliss, 



ARUIVAL AT CERRO GORDO. 579 

men — Roach, King and Luker, of Capt. Haynes' company — 
were slightly wounded. We did not arrive at Plan del Rio, 
near Cerro Gordo, until the second day after the battle. 

We had marched from the national bridge. — The day was 
hot and the road dusty. — As the column neared Plan del Rio, 
and wound over the hills, we came to a burnt rancho. Here 
the dragoons had had the first skirmish with the advance 
parties of Mexicans before the battle. Another mile brought 
us to a bridge crossing a creek in which were many beautiful 
cascades, and shortly after to another bridge, and beyond it 
a small plain, embosomed, as it were, in among crags and 
mountains. — This was Plan del Rio, and here we found en- 
camped the second Tennessee infantry. As we approached, 
they came to meet us, crowding in among our horses ; and 
the advance was almost stopped, so eager were all of us to 
learn particulars from them. — There was inquiry among us 
for this one, for that one, &c. 

The answers were various : — some were safe ; others had 
lost arms or legs, or had been otherwise wounded, while the 
inquiry for others was answered by their pointing to the long 
rows of fresh graves by the side of the road. — The enemy 
had been completely defeated, but many brave men had 
fallen in our ranks. 

We visited the wounded after encampment, and then rode 
to the battle-ground, on which we found detachments of men 
piling up muskets, bringing off the wounded, burying the 
dead, &c., over the extended hills. We examined the ground 
thoroughly, and many unpleasant scenes were presented be- 
fore us, of which we will speak after giving an account of 
the battle. 

The battle-ground of Cerro Gordo is difficult to be descri- 
bed, on account of its being but a vast collection of massive 
hills, divided by deep and precipitous ravines. — No view of 
the whole ground can be obtained from any one place, save 

who was so anxious to have a hand-to-hand conflict with these guerrillas, that he went 
to Gen. Quitman and begged to be allowed to go back to Vera Cruz with their little 
escort, thinking that they would be fired upon again. On account of the wounded 
men, the general permitted him to go. Although disappointed previous to reaching 
Vera Cruz, yet, in returning, near Jalapa, he was gratified by having a fight, and kill- 
ing a guerrilla captain. 



580 BATTLE-GROUND OF CERRO GORDO. 

the height of Cerro Gordo itself, that rises nine hundred and 
fifty feet above the river, which runs in a deep ravine on its 
southern side. — The only way in which the author can pos- 
sibly present to the mind of the reader a correct idea of the 
extraordinary strength of this place, and the difficulties that 
our gallant troops had to surmount in the attacks upon the 
enemy's strong works, is to draw his attention to the plan 
and views combined. (Sec plan, page 580 ; view opposite, and 
frontispiece). 

In the first place, imagine yourself standing at Gen. Pil- 
low's position, marked on the plan. — You are on a high hill, 
facing to the north-west, and you have before you the view 
seen in the picture opposite. Behind you is a dense growth of 
chapparal. In front of you are the batteries of the enemy's 
left, — Nos. 1, 2, 3, — running on the tops of the hills, and sep- 
arated by ravines. These works are of stone. 

The space between you and the batteries is very rough, 
of irregular stones, overgrown with briers; — the thorny mus- 
quit has been cut down, and so left : for, as the enemy ex- 
pected the main attack here, every precaution was taken to 
ensure success in defence. — To the left of the whole picture, 
a little beyond the view, is the edge or perpendicular side of 
the principal ravine — an awful chasm, between four and five 
hundred feet in depth, and two-thirds of a mile in width. — 
Far down in this meanders the river. — Behind you are rug- 
ged, stony hills, covered with thick chapparal, and with tre- 
mendous ravines between, rendering them impassable. If 
you turn and look in that direction, you can see far down 
over their rugged tops to Plan del Rio, and the American 
camp quietly reposing in the narrow valley. 

The national road, as you also perceive by the plan, (page 
586), leaves Plan del Rio ; runs eastwardly, up the side of 
the mountain base ; then north, rising rapidly ; then west ; 
then north again, until, down in the valley, where Gen. 
Worth's position is marked, it comes within long range of 
the guns on the right of the fort before j'ou. There it winds 
around the next hill, and takes a north-western course, di- 
rectly through the " pass," where you see it is exposed in its 
approach to the guns of battery No. 3, which are high up 



BATTLE-GROUND OF CERRO GORDO. 583 

above it ; and, after it enters the pass, to those of No. 4, 
which bear directly down upon it ; also to those of the height 
of Cerro Gordo, — opposite which, you observe that battery 
jVo. 5 entirely closes the road, and its guns point directly 
down the pass. — From No. 4 to No. 5 is a continued breast- 
work on the side of the rising hill, within pistol range of 
the pass below. — Turn again to this picture of the batteries, 
and you observe part of No. 3, on the right ; and, over the 
top of the hill upon which that is placed, under the letter X, 
there placed, and looking down on the road in the pass, is 
the position of No. 4. The hill of Cerro Gordo you observe 
rising above, in the distance. Observing the position of 
the battery No. 4, on the plan, {page 586), and from this 
picture described, in imagination proceed there in a direct 
line, — crossing the ravine, — leaving battery No. 3 to your 
right. 

On arriving at No. 4, you have the picture, shown in the 
frontispiece before you, which was also taken after the battle : 
— the pass below you ; the hills of Cerro Gordo and Tele- 
grafo, in front ; Cerro Gordo being to the left. Telegrafo is 
the hill on which the fighting of the 17 th took place ; and 
Cerro Gordo rises high, the key of the whole position. A 
body of our troops are placed going through the pass, toward 
the head, or the farther extremity, at which is battery No. 5, 
shown on the plan ; — the guns of this bear directly alon§ 
the pass, as above mentioned. 

Now, reader, from your last position (battery No. 4) ima- 
gine yourself across the pass, and on the summit of Cerro 
Gordo, and then you look down on, and have a direct view 
of the whole ground, and, with the aid of the plan first men- 
tioned, can gain a clear idea of the field of operations. — In 
the first place, facing to the south-east, below you is the 
pass, and the hill beyond it, rising from battery No. 5, and 
continually ascending, until it ends at batteries No. 1, 2 
and 3. Still farther on, in the same direction, you look far 
over the mountainous hills, which are between you and Plan 
del Rio. To the south, you see over this hill of batteries, 
and observe that on its southern side it is abruptly termi- 
nated by the terrible chasm or ravine before mentioned. — 



584 BATTLE-GROUND OF CERRO GORDO. 

Over the ravine, you observe but distant mountains, thrown 
together in nature's w^ildest style. 

Looking down from your high elevation to the west, you 
observe the plain, bounded by the same ravine, which, at 
battery No. 5, comes nearly to the road at the base of the 
mountain, and this road follows up the bank of the ravine to 
where is marked Santa Anna's headquarters ; — there the 
road branches off, and loses itself in other hills. 

Now look to the north. — At the base of the mountain is 
another ravine, apparently impassable ; — beyond that, the 
rugged mountains are piled upon one another far as the eye 
can reach. 

Now look to the east, still consulting the plan. Below 
you is the hill of Telegrafo ; — it stretches long and high. 
Between it and the hill of batteries Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the 
road runs up. Over this hill of Telegrafo, surrounded as it 
is by tremendous chasms, your vision extends far off to the 
eastward ; — rugged hills succeed to others still lower, until, 
thirty miles in the distance, you observe the more level and 
faint outlines of the lower lands of the sea coast. l 

The view all around you is of the wildest of nature's 
work, and you wonder at the exceeding strength of this 
place. You see that no force can approach by the south, for 
the terrible ravine forbids. — You think it utterly hopeless to 
endeavor to come around to the north, for the ravines ap- 
pear impassable. — You perceive no way to come, save di- 
rectly up the road from the south-east along the pass ; but 
if that was attempted, you perceive, from the plan, that they 
would be exposed to a flank fire from fort No. 2, as they 
crossed the valley below, and then would be annihilated as 
they came up the pass, by the lofty batteries. Nos. 3 and 4, 
and the direct fire of No. 5, added to that of No. 6, on the 
summit of the hill of Cerro Gordo. You can perceive no 
opportunity for a force ever to be able to come so near as 
to attack any of the works, save the batteries on the extreme 
south, — Nos. 1 and 2, — which may be approached by a diffi- 
cult path through the chapparal on the rocky hills, marked 
as Gen. Pillow's route. 

Well, reader, so it appears, and so Santa Anna and his 



DESERTION OF DRAGOON. 585 

officers thought ; and into that part of the line, consequently, 
he had placed the best troops and strongest collection of ar- 
tillery ; their opinion was made certain by a German, — one 
of our regular dragoons, — who, confident, from their position, 
that they must gain the victory, deserted from our troops on 
the night of the 17th, and passed over to them, informing 
them that they were to be attacked on the next morning, and 
that the principal effort was to be made against those bat- 
teries, — Nos. 1 and 2. On this information, Gen. La Vega, 
who commanded on the height of Cerro Gordo, changed 
places with Gen, Vasquez in command of the batteries on the 
hill ; and every preparation was made to receive the attack. 
But this deserter was wrong in his idea : the main assault 
was not to be made there, but at the eminence of Cerro Gordo 
itself, in the face of all the natural difficulties that surround- 
ed it; and his tale, therefore, and its effect in change of the 
Mexican movements, in strengthening these batteries, and 
waiting there for the main attack, was in the highest degree 
subservient to the glory of the American arms : for Gen. 
Scott, although commanding an assault to be made against 
these batteries, yet had from the first intended to direct his 
main movements to the right ; and so confident was he of 
his plans securing the victory, notwithstanding the immense 
advantage of position and numerical force of the enemy 
added to their overpowering number of artillery, that his 
•orders were only directed to that end, and nothing is said in 
them of the possibility of defeat ; but the troops are directed 
as to the manner of pursuit of the routed foe.* 

• oEir. bcott's ohders previous to the battle of CERno gordo. 

Hkapquarters of the Army of the Untted States of Amebica. ) 
Plan del Rio, April 17, 1S47. J 

General Orders, No. 111. 

The enemy's whole line of entrenchments and batteries will be attacked in front 
and at the same time turned, early in the day to-morrow, probably before ten o'clock,' 
A.M. 

The second (Twiggs') division of regulars is already advanced within easy turning 
distance towards the enemy's left. That division has instructions to move forward 
before daylight to-morrow, and take up position across the National Road in the en- 
emy's rear, so as to cut off a retreat towards Jalapa. It may be reinforced to-day, if 
■•unexpectedly attacked in force, by regiments — one or two taken from Shields' brigade 



586 GEN. TWIGGS' MOVEMENTS. 

Gen. Twiggs had already opened a road around, with in- 
finite labor, and, after a hard fight on the 17th, taken pos- 
session of the hill of Telegrafo, driving off" the enemy with 
great loss ; and, on this evening, he was reinforced by Gen. 
Shields' brigade of volunteers, consisting of the third Illinois 
infantry, Col. Foreman, the fourth do., Col. Baker, and the 
New York regiment. Col. Burnett. 

Gen, Twiggs' division slept on their arms, on the ground 

GEN. SCOTT's orders PREVIOUS TO THE BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 

of volunteers. If not, the two volunteer regiments will march for that purpose at day- 
light to-morrow morning, under Brig. Gen. Shields, who will report to Brig. Gen. 
Twiggs on getting up with him, or the general-in-chief, if he be in advance. 

The remaining regiment of that volunteer brigade will receive instructions in the 
course of this day. 

The first division of regulars (Worth's) will follow the movement against the en- 
emy's left at sunrise to-morrow morning. 

As already arranged. Brig. Gen. Pillow's brigade will march at six o'clock to-mor- 
row morning along the route he has carefully reconnoitred, and stand ready as soon as 
he hears the report of arms on our right, or sooner, if circumstances should favor him, 
to pierce the enemy's line of batteries at such point — the nearer the river the better — 
as he may select. Once in the rear of that line, he will turn to the right or left, or 
both, and attack the batteries in reverse, or if abandoned, he will pursue the enemy 
with vigor until further orders. 

Wall's field battery and the cavalry will be left in reserve on the National Road, 
a little out of view and range of the enemy's batteries. They will take up that posi- 
tion at nine o'clock in the morning. 

The enemy's batteries being carried or abandoned, all our divisions and corps will 
pursue with vigor. 

This pursuit may be continued many miles, until stopped by darkness or fortified 
positions, towards Jalapa. Consequently, the body of the army will not return to this 
encampment, but be followed to-morrow afternoon, or early the next morning, by the 
baggage trains of the several corps. For this purpose, the feebler officers and men of 
each corps will be left to guard its camp and effects, and to load up the latter in the 
wagons of the corps. A commander of the present encampment will be designated 
in the course of this day. 

As soon as it shall be known that the enemy's works have been carried, or that 
the general pursuit has been commenced, one wagon for each regiment, and one for 
the cavalry, will follow the movement, to receive, under the directions of medical offi- 
cers, the wounded and disabled, who will be brought back to this place for treatment in 
general hospital. 

The Surgeon General will organise this important service, and designate that hos- 
pital, as well as the medical officers to be left at it. 

Every man who marches out to attack or pursue the enemy, will take the usual al- 
lowance of ammunition, and subsistence for at least two days. 
By command of Major General Scott : 

H. L. SCOTT, A. A. A. General. 



POSITION OF MEXICAN TROOPS. 589 

they had so gallantly won.* In the night, three pieces of 
artillery, twenty-four pounders, two of them howitzers, un- 
der the command of Capt. Steptoe, and the other under that 
of Lieut. Seymour, were dragged up the new road opened 
by Gen. Twiggs (marked on the plan opposite), with incredi- 
ble labor, by the regulars, the Illinoisans, and the New York 
regiment, and on the summit of Telegrafo placed in position. 
This battery commenced the action of the 18th, at seven 
o'clock A. M., by a heavy upward fire upon the enemy's bat- 
tery, on the adjacent height of Cerro Gordo. 

We will now speak of the disposition of the Mexican troops 
at this moment, and the arrangements made for receiving the 
attack. — In the fort, at the top of the hill of Cerro Gordo, 
were six pieces of artillery, and near three thousand men, 
under Gen. Vasquez ; Gen. Santa Anna and Gen. Ampudia 
were there, also, during the commencement of the fight, but 
cleared themselves quickly afterward. — At the foot of Cerro 
Gordo, and near the battery No. 5, were about two thousand 
men and five cannon. On the hill of the batteries Nos. 1, 

2, 3, and 4, were about four thousand men, and twenty-four 
pieces of artillery — five in No. 1, eight in No. 2, eight in No. 

3, and three in No. 4. These were under the commands of 
Gen. La Vega and Gen. Pinson. The fact of there being 
artillery in Nos. 1 and 2 was unknown to our attacking force, 
the pieces being masked by brush, like that which lay cut 
down and dry before them, and there having been no oppor- 
tunity of making a correct reconnoissance of the position. 

* TWIGGs' ACTION ON THE 17tH. 

The forces of Gen. Twiggs engaged in the battle of the 17th, the object of which 
was to gain possession of Telegrafo, were under the immediate command of Col. 
Harney ; — were composed of the regular rifle regiment, Major Loring, first artillery. 
Col. Childs, and one company of the seventh regular infantry, under Lieut. Gardner, 
with the mountain howitzer and rocket company, under Capt. Talcott, and was a 
spirited battle, in which Col. Hamey and his command conducted themselves with 
great gallantry and success ; driving the numerous bodies of the enemy from the hill 
of Telegrafo, and repulsing three heavy charges that they made with a heavy force 
from Cerro Gordo, to regain possession. While this action was going on, Gen. Santa 
Anna was on the height of Cerro Gordo above, and the action was thus fought beneath 
his eye, and directed, on the part of the Mexicans, by his orders. By referring to the 
frontispiece, the reader has a full view of Telegrafo, and the hollow between that and 
Cerro Gordo, which, as well as the hill, was the scene of the severe fighting of this day^ 



>590 BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 

At Santa Anna's headquarters, were a body of infantry and 
artillery, with six cannon, and four thousand lancers, under 
Gen. Canalizo ; making in all about thirteen thousand men, 
with forty-two pieces of cannon. 

The battle now commenced with the utmost spirit. Gen. 
Twiggs' three brigades — Col Riley's, Col. Harney's (Gen. 
P. F. Smith, the commander, being sick), and Gen. Shields' 
volunteers — were already on the ground ; — Gen. Pillow's 
brigade — composed of the 1st and 2d Tennessee regiments, 
under colonels Campbell and Haskell, 1st and 2d Pennsyl- 
vania do., under colonels Roberts and Wyncoop, the inde- 
pendent company of Kentuckians, Capt. Williams, and one 
company of the Tennessee cavalry, Capt. Caswell — was on 
the route from camp, at Plan del Rio, but having three miles 
to march round, before it could reach the enemy's left bat- 
teries, was not able to arrive at these until after the general 
commencement of the fight at Cerro Gordo, on the other ex- 
tremity, although the gallant brigade was making every ex- 
ertion to get there. The firing commenced sooner than had 
been anticipated. 

Col, Harney's brigade of the 1st artillery. Col. Childs, 3d 
infantry, Capt. Alexander, 7th infantry, Lieut. Col. Plymp- 
ton, and the rifle regiment, Major Loring, descended from 
Telegrafo, into the valley {seen in the frontispiece) between that 
and Cerro Gordo, and then rapidly charged up the sides of 
the steep mountain, upon the fort, exposed to the fire from 
above, and partly to that of the three pieces, seen in the 
foreground, which fired with fatal effect across to the moun- 
tain. 

While these were attacking the hill, the 2d brigade, under 
Col. Riley, passed to the right, around the base of Cerro 
Gordo, and engaged the enemy at and near its base. At the 
same time, the volunteer brigade, under Gen. Shields, also 
passing under the base of Cerro Gordo, and crossing a ravine, 
moved up on its right bank, and, to the perfect astonishment 
of Santa Anna, vigorously attacked his headquarters, which 
were protected by the battery of six cannon, and supported 
by Gen. Canalizo's body of lancers. 

While these three brigades were thus moving, the enemy, 



BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 591 

perceiving the movements, apparently became alarmed, lest 
the main attack should be in that direction, instead of on 
the other extremity ; and a heavy body of near two thousand 
infantry w^ere put in motion, to proceed across and strengthen 
the post of Cerro Gordo. But at that moment the heavy 
firing upon their left announced the attack of Gen. Pillow, 
and this body were immediately recalled to the resistance 
of what they supposed to be the main attack of the Ameri- 
can army.* Harney's brigade, after sharp fighting and heavy 
loss, entered the breast-works on top of Cerro Gordo, from 
opposite points, and, finishing the work with the bayonet, 
drove the enemy down the hill, where Col. Riley's brigade 
was already routing the force there stationed. — Gen. Shields' 
lllinoisans,"f with the New York regiment, charged upon the 
battery at Santa Anna's headquarters, and upon the lancers 
beyond, in a most gallant manner, that drew upon them 
the admiration of the whole army, and the highest com- 
pliments from the generals. Their brave and accomplished 
leader. Gen. Shields, fell, shot through the breast; and Col 
Baker, of the 4th Illinois, assumed the command. The bat- 
tery was taken, and the lancers routed ; Santa Anna barely 
escaping, by a rapid flight ; and the rout of all the forces of 
the enemy became complete, save that upon the hill of the 
batteries Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. These surrendered prisoners of 
war. — The remainder, that fled towards Jalapa, were pur- 
sued by Gen. Twiggs, with two sections of artillery, the reg- 
ular dragoons, captains Hardee and Blake, under Major Beal, 

* Never, in any battle, have been a superior and excellently fortified force more com- 
pletely out-generaled, and more decisively and promptly defeated in consequence, than 
were the Mexicans in their almost impregnable position at Cerro Gordo. Strong as 
was the main hill, they relied too much upon it. The very opinion of the Mexicans, 
that their left was the only place that could be assailed, and the formidable preparations 
there made for the reception of the Americans, and their confidence of being able to 
repulse them, proved their ruin ; for although they were thus enabled to repulse Gen. 
Pillow, yet the attention and force to do this, thus withdrawn from Cerro Cordo and 
their right, lost them those positions, before the sweeping, resistless charges of Col. 
Harney, Col. Riley, and Gen. Shields; and their batteries on the left were then un- 
tenable, being completely commanded by Cerro Gordo. 

■j" As the 1st and 2d Illinoisans distinguished themselves at Buena Vista, under 
Gen. Taylor, so did the 3d and 4th, of the same State, gain equal honors a' this 
action, 'jnder Gen. Scott. 



592 ATTACK BY GEN. PILLOW'S BRIGADE. 

and the Ulinoisans and New Yorkers. A scene of slaughter 
and capture extended for miles ; the routed forces escaping 
in the chapparal, wherever they could, throwing away their 
arms in their flight. 

But we are getting ahead of our account. We left Gen. 
Pillow's brigade arriving before the enemy ^s left batteries. 
Not ready— but the firing having already become heavy at 
Cerro Gordo, that general, too hasty in the movement, in- 
stantly ordered the 2d Tennessee, accompanied by Capt. Wil- 
liams' Kentucky company, to charge upon battery No. 2, to be 
supported by the 1st Pennsylvania; and the enemy opened 
with artillery into the chapparal in which the arriving troops 
were forming, killing and wounding some, and, of the latter,, 
the general himself, as he was riding over to the other col- 
umn, the 2d Pennsylvania, supported by the 1st Tennessee, 
which was to attack battery No. 1. — The 2d Tennessee had 
dashed ahead, towards its object. A short distance brought 
them out into the open space, of which the covering chap- 
paral had been cut down, and now, for the first time, all saw 
the position of the works here ; (for, as said before, it had 
not been possible to closely observe them previously, on ac- 
count of the strong Mexican pickets, in the chapparal, which 
completely prevented the approach, sufficiently near, of a re- 
connoitering party). Before them, for two hundred yards, the 
chapparal trees lay over the ground in every direction. The 
large rocks beneath lay piled on each other, covered with a 
coarse grass, which grew up between, and concealed their 
ragged, irregular crevices. In front, at battery No. 2, eight 
pieces of artillery were loaded to the muzzles with canister, 
and eighteen hundred infantry were ranged behind them. 
To the right, in battery No. 3, five pieces of artillery, within 
musket shot, loaded with canister, and supported by in- 
fantry, were ready to fii-e crosswise ; on the left, in battery 
No. 4, were three pieces, in the same manner, to cross-fire in 
the other direction, supported in the same manner. Thus 
had they here prepared to receive the main attack of the 
American army. — As the column emerged from the chap- 
paral, the glance around them upon the obstructions of the 
ground, and the terrible preparations to receive them, did not 



CHARGE OF SECOND TENNESSEE REGIMENT. 503 

daunt, in the least degree, the courage or the enthusiasm of 
this noble regiment of Tennesseeans, and the equally gallant 
company of Kentuckians ; — delivering their fire at the ser- 
ried, protected ranks before them, they answered the clear 
strains of the Mexican bugles with a wild shout of defiance, 
and over the rocks, brush and fallen trees, as rapidly as they 
could get, they dashed firmly forward with the bayonet. — 
The Mexican artillery in front opened upon them; the bat- 
tery on the right swept them with grape, and that on the left 
crossed its showers of canister through their ranks, while 
the deadly fire of two thousand muskets poured upon them. 
The air was filled with the storm of iron, copper, and lead ; 
the trees and brush flew in splinters, the rocks were .shattered 
on every surface ; and the gallant command, pressing nearly 
to the forts, fell like leaves before the whirlwind. Their 
heroic colonel, Haskell, maddened in seeing his men thus 
falling around him, and that the consummation of the assault 
with his force was absolutely impossible, — his lieutenant- 
colonel, major, adjutant, and most of his company officers 
having fallen, with his cap torn from his head by a grape- 
shot, his hair streaming wildly in the wind, loudly ordered 
his men to fall back until supported. This v/as done : and 
then the whole brigade put in columns, to attack Nos. 1 and 
2 simultaneously. But now it was unnecessary — the ob- 
ject had been gained.* For the heavy Mexican column, that 
had been proceeding to the assistance of the force on the 
height of Cerro Gordo, was stopped in its course, and turned 
back with all speed, by the firing at the left ; and before they 
could return, Cerro Gordo, the key to the whole position, had 
been taken ; the forces there entirely routed, and, immedi- 
ately after, those in the batteries displayed a white flag for 
surrender, and the battle was over. 

The rout was complete. — Not a thing was saved by the 
flying enemy ; all order was lost, and every one escaped in 
the best way he could. — There fell into the hands of our 



• The reader lias only to look at the view of these batteries, (page .580) and in 
imagination to fill up the fortifications with the crowded ranks of the enemy, to be 
able fully to appreciate the daring valor and unflinching bravery of tills 2d Tennessee 
regiment, with its accompanying band of Kentuckians. 

38 



594 FRUITS OF VICTORY. 

victorious army forty-two pieces of cannon, (most of them 
brass), many wagons and pack mules, four thousand prison- 
ers,* six or eight thousand stand of arms (not numbered), 
five generals, — Pinson, Jarero, La Vega, Noriega, and Obando ; 
(another. Gen. Vasqaez, was killed on Cerro Gordo, fighting 
to the last) ; many colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and other 
officers (two hundred and fifteen in all) ; most abundant sup- 
plies of excellent powder ; cannon and musket cartridges ; 
cannon-balls, grape-shot and canister, of copper, iron, and 
lead ; Santa Anna's traveling carriage, and his effects,, inclu- 
ding sixteen thousand dollars, in silver — a good part of which 
fell into the hands of the victorious Illinoisans and others ; 
and, in fact, everything that the enemy possessed. 

Santa Anna escaped to the town of Orizaba, on the foot 
of the mountain of the same name. The Mexican army dis- 
persed in every direction, and the largest body was pursued 
sixteen miles, to Santa Anna's hacienda at Encerro,t and 
many were cut down. 

The hopes of the Mexicans were, for the time, Avholly de- 
stroyed ; and, as the fruits of victory, the fine city of Jalapa 

* About one thousand of these escaped, for the want of a full escort in the chap- 
paral-lined road, between the battle-field and Plan del Rio, whither they were con- 
ducted. The remainder were released on parole, given by their officers, that ihcy 
should not again bear arras against the United States during the present war. 

-j- At Encerro, a few miles from Jalapa, the pursuing column of Illinoisans, of both 
regiments, of the New York regiment, and of regular dragoons, directed by Gen. 
Twiggs in person, was halted by Maj. Gen. Patterson, on account of the extreme 
fatigue of the men and horses, — many of the latter dropping dead, from over-exertion ; 
— the miserable fugitives left of the Mexican army were unnoticed farther. — On this 
route. Gen. Ampudia and his staff were nearly caught: for, hemmed in by a wall, they 
could not escape, and they took the bold movement of advancing directly towards 
Gen. Patterson and his staff, who supposed that they were coming up to surrender 
themselves; but the wily Mexicans had no such idea: bj' this movement they came 
to a lower part of the wall, and Ampudia leaped his splendid gray horse, which he 
calls " Gen. Taylor," over it, followed by the rest, like a flock of sheep, and away 
they went. The dragoon horses were too much fatigued to pursue them, and Gen. 
Patterson was disappointed in capturing his supposed prize. 

This gallant general had been, during the day, and for several days before, quite 
sick, — enough so to be confined to his bed ; but, on the approach of the battle, could 
not be kept in by the surgeons, but joined Gen. Scott at the base of Cerro Gordo 
during the battle ; and was in the whole of the subsequent pursuit. Gen. Smith 
was sick, so that he could not get out, and therefore Col. Harney had command of 
his brigade. 



SURRENDER OF JALAPA, PEROTE, AND PUEBLA. 595 

yielded, on the next day, to the conquerors ; and, in two days 
more, the strong castle of Perote, second only to San Juan de 
Ulloa, followed, — having within it fifty-six cannon and seven 
mortars, and an abundance of small arms ; and in a few days 
the splendid city of Puebla surrendered, upon the advance 
of Gen. Worth, and was taken possession of by that officer^ 
and the road to the city of Mexico was open.* 

Such was the battle of Cerro Gordo,t which, although ad- 

* In less than two months after Gen. Scott haJ landed at Vera Cruz, he had taken 
nine thousand prisoners, and among them ten generals ; three large cities ; two fa- 
mous fortresses; five hundred pieces of cannon, over ten thousand stand of arms, and 
an immense quantity of materiel of war ; had routed and dispersed the Mexican 
armies, and driven their great general, a fugitive, into the mountains for safety. 

-j- KILLED AND WOUNDED, FIIIST BHIGAUE OF VOLUNTEERS. 

For the list of Tennesseeans and Kentuckians, the author is indebted to the polite- 
ness of the acting adjutant of the second Tennessee regiment. 

riRST BRIGADE OF VOLTJNTEKS. — WOUNDED. 

Brig. Gen. G. J. Pillow, slightly. 

SECOND TENNESSEE REGIMENT, COL. 'WM. HASKELL. 

Woitndtd — Lieut. Col. David Cummings, Major Farquarharson, Adj. Wilev P. HalR, (since 
dead). 

, Company A, Capt. W. G. McCowan. — Killed — Private Samuel Floyd. Wounded — Sergeant 
And. Carson, privates H. Mowry, Peter Wheeler, Aaron Dockery, Aaron Capps, S. G. 
Williams. 

Company B, Capt. Henry F. Murray. — Wounded — Captain H. F. Murray ; privates J Kent, 
(since dead), Moreau Brewer, Benj. F. Bibb. 

Company C, Lieut. W. G. McAdoo. — Killed — Private Wm. England, Geo. W. Koeny. — 
Wounded — Sergeants T. R. Bradley and E. H. McAdoo; privates Wm. Bennet, Isaac N. 
Graham, liCwis L. Jones, Sam'l Davis. 

Company D, Lieut. F. B. Nelson. — Killtd — tst Lieut. F. B. Nelson ; private Chas. Bampson. 
Wounded — Josiali Prescott, Benj. O'Haver, Chas. Ross. 

Cotnpany E, Ut Lieut. W. B. Davis.— Killed— 2d Lieut. C. G. Gill, Serg't H. L. Bynum, pri- 
vates R. L. Bohannon, John J. Gunter. Wounded — Privates John Gregory, A. Gregory, E. G. 
Robinson, B. Plunkelt. John P. Isler. 

Company F, 2d Lieut. A. P. GrMie.— Killed— SergH F. Willis; privates W. O. Striblin, Eph. 
Price, Thos. Griffin, Rob't Keirnan, Wounded — Serg't George A. Smith, (mortally) ; privates 
L. AV. Fussell, Alonzo White, John Burrus, Christopher Johnson, James Whitlington, Thos. 
H. Boyd. 

Company G, Capt. W. J. Standifer. — Wounded — Serg't John Cowan ; private James Allison. 

Company H, Capt. John D. Loivry. — Killed — Serg't W.F. Brown. Wounded — 1st Lieut. 
Wm. Yearwood, (since dead), 2d Lieut. Jas Forest; privates James Woods, John D. Armon, 
George Sherman, (since dead), a free colored boy, who persi.sted in going into the action. 

Independent co?npany Kentuckians. from Clark county, Capt. John S. Williams, attached to 2d 
Tenn.]— Killed — Corporal W. F. Elkin ; privates W. Durham, Alfred Hatton. Wounded — ^2d 
Lieut. George S. Southerland, serg't A. T. Mocabee ; privates W. W. Keith, Henry Williams, 
Minor T. Smith, Ira Storm. Henry Bre wner, Joseph J. Langston, Wm. Bruce,Willis F. Martin, 
James Muir, William Chism. 

FIRST TENNESSEE, COL. CAMPBELL. 

Killed — Private S. W. Lauderdale. Wounded — Captain Maulding, Adj. Ileiman, Adj. cor- 
poral Johnson ; privates S. G. Steamers. M. Burns, W. F. McCrory, S. W. Garnette. 

FIRST PEN.NSYLVANIA, COL. ROBERTS. 

Woutided — Privates J. Lindhurt, David Lindsay, Albert Cudney, J. R. Davis, C. F. Keyser, 
John Slieleen, G. Sutton, A. Lovier, D. W. C. Kitclicn, D. K. Morrison. 



596 MERIT OF THE BATTLE. 

mired, has not received its merited degree of praise ; for the 
position of the enemy ; his greatly superior force ; his vast 
supplies ; the excellent generalship displayed in the attack ; 
the complete and sudden overthrow^ and defeat ; the disper- 
sion of his army ; the vast materiel captured, and the con- 
sequences of the victory, render it one of the most brilliant 

KILLED AND WOUNDED. 

SECOND PKNKSYLVANIA, COL. WYNKOOP. 

Wounded — Corporal John Smith: privates A.Roland, J. Shultz, John Chambers, Jacob 
Simons, Ed. Cruse, Jacob Miller, D. M. Davidson, Wm. Wilhelm, F. Somers, James Shaw, 
Thos. Hann, Josiah Horn. 

SECOND BRIOADB VOLTNTEKKS. 

Wounded — Brig. Gen. Shields, severely. 

THIRD ILLINOIS, COL. FOKMAN. 

Killed — Private Benjamin Merritt. Wo2i7ided — Serg't Allen, corporal J. F. Thompson; pri- 
vates Andrew Browning, T. W. Haley, John Roe, Levi Card, H. Dimond, S. While, A. Mc- 
Colium, S. C. B. Ellis, G. Hammond, T. Harlow. S. Bullock, J. Mellburn, John iViaulding. 

FOURTH ILLINOIS, COL. BAKER. 

Killed — 1st Lieut. George M. Cowardin, corporal H. H. INIiller, private Joseph Newman. — 
Wounded — Lieutenants Richard JVIurphy, Charles Maltby, And. Fornian ; sergeants J D. 
Sanders, J. M. Handsby, James B. Anderson, Uriah Davenport: corporals Thomas Hissey, 
G. W. Nelson; privates James A. Banel, James Depen, John Walker, Wni. E. Lee, James 
Malion, John Arahood, Laban Chambers, George Carver, E. Rice, James Shephard, David 
Hoflmun, Robert Jackson, Leroy Thornley, Thomas Tcnuery, John Price, Josaph Tharp, Ir- 
win Becker, J. J. D. Todd, Charles Lanning, Frederick Braucher, S. Browne, Win. Morris. 

The first and second lieutenants of company F, Scott and Johnson, and eleven others in that 
company are also known to have been killed or wounded ; but the names the author has not 
been able to procure. 

FIRST NEW YORK, COL. BURNKTT. 

Wounded — Capt. Pearson; privates E. Cook, R. Hedrick, John Stiver, Henry [ieveran 
Christopher Newman. 

FIIIST BniGADE REOULAHS, COL, HARNET, 

, MOUNTED RIFLEMEN, MAJOR SUMNER. 

Killed — Serg't James Harlison, Corporal Danley Ware ; privates Thomas J. Pointer, Benj"- 
McGee, Conrad Kuntz, Charles Wills, Wm. Cooper, George Collins, Wm. McDonald. 

Wounded — Major E. V. Sumner, commanding regiment, Capt. Stephen T. Mason, first lieu- 
tenant Thomas Ewell, (since dead), second lieutenant Thomas Davis, second lieutenant G. 
McLean, brevet second lieutenant Dabney H. Maury, brevet second lieutenant Alfred Gibbsj 
sergeants Jeremiah Beck, Thomas Sloan, Carter L. Vigus, H. Louis Brown, Charles H. W. 
Boln; corporals Thomas Williams, Ferdmand Liltlebrand, Wm. R. Leachman, Thos. Goslin, 
Lewis P. Arnold; privates John McCormick, W. "W. Miller, John McCauley, T. J. Hester, 

D. Hesiing, R. Ross, S. N. Bitner, W. F. Ford, E. N. Brown, John Sampson, W. W. Breedon, 

E. Allen, A. Evans, W. Butterfield, J. Meyers, D. Carpenter, G. W. Gillespie, John Raney, 
J. Windle. H. Zimmerman, James McGowan, W. A. Miller, C. Jones, W. J. Scrivener, Jas. 
A. Adams, George Stempson, David Bear, W. Hammersly, Samuel Gilman, John W. Robin- 
son, Justus Freemaux, Adam Ryan, J. Hooker, L. Hooker. John Walker, H. Hill, W. Hig- 
gins, W. Forbes, Ira While, George Tucker, C. A. Alburn, H. Bell, W. H. Preston, W. Sche- 
der, J. Lipp, J. Vorle, J. Spencer, T. Conway, A. L. Ogg, C. Bruner, F. Workman, Hiram 
Melvine, M. Lang, D. Ferguson, C. Foster. G. Bacurine, G. Brydong, S. Runison, J Schra- 
man, T. Moll, N. J. Campbell. 

FIRST ARTILLERY, COL. CHILD3. 

Killed— SiiTgca.nl Caldwell Armstrong; privates Patrick Casey, Daniel Doty, Amant Hara- 
man, Charles Skinner, Joseph Wood, Francis Perrod, Michael Dailey, Griffin Budd, Samuel 
M. Roberts, Hugh Croley.— 11. 

Wounded— Sergeixnls J . M. Ilolden, (mortally), John Haymes, John Teahan ; privates John 
Bandorf, Adam Kock, R. M. Huntington, Michael Griffin, James Welsh, Thomas Sullivan, 



LOSS OF EITHER ARMY. 597 

actions of the Mexican war. The least estimate made by 
the Mexican officers, of their loss in killed and wounded, 
was about one thousand ; but from the number of dead, and 
the wounded which fell into our hands, it was afterwards 
universally conceded that it could not have been less than 
one thousand five hundred. The loss of the Americans, as 
seen below, was four hundred and twenty-five. 

KILLED ANU WOUNDED. 

Sergeant S. F. Simpson, privates John Gormley, Thomas Malheron, Wm. B. Williams j cor- 
poral Ferdinand Littleward ; artificer Hiram Melvin ; privates Marinus Lang, David Fergu- 
son, Cliarles Forster, Gotlert Barnrule, George Briduiig, Konradt Fisher, Stephen Rineson, Ju- 
lius Schramm, Frederick Molte, Nathaniel J.Campbell; corporal Thomas Williams; pri- 
vates Patrick Anthony, Samuel Downey, Anthony Bracklin, Mathew Enganberg, George 
Hamblin, Michael Harley, James Keegan, Orrin I-awton, John Rooney. John A. Sloane, 
Wm. H. Webber, John Wooley, James Burnett, Thomas Lynes, Andrew Wright, Patrick 
Kane, Sergeant Thomas Geff". — 43. 

SEVENTH INFANTKY, LIEUT. COL. PLYMPTON. 

Killed — Sergeant Robert Wright ; corporal Fidmund Toley ; privates Wm. Myers, Lewis 
Belie, J. M. Derby, Jolm M. Seaton, John Lynch, Francis O'Neill, Isaac Dolcn. 

Wounde!! — 1st Lieut. N. T. J. Dana; sergeants John Heynes, Jolm Teahan, James M. Hol- 
den, H. J. Manson, Samuel Cline. R S. Cross, Jonathan Marsh, James Ecles, John Brayman j 
corporals Nicholas Bradley, John Carter, Patrick Duneghar, James Garrard, John Jones; 
privates Anthony Bracklin, Samuel Downey, Matthew Eugan, George Hamlin, Michael Har- 
ly, James Keigan, Orrin Lawton, John Rooney, J. A. Sloane, W. H. Webber, John Wooley, 
James Burnet, Thomas Myres, Andrew Wright, John Bandorf, Adam Kock, Patrick Kane, 
R. R. Hunlington, N. GrifTni, James Welsh, Thomas Sullivan, Jacob Halpin, D. McCrystaI.E. 
Lyons, E. Peters, C. Elliott, James Godfrey, C. S. Hassner, William Longwell, I. Gilleze, 
e. Johnson, James Joice, J. Lee, John McMahon, T. O'Callaghan, W. Robinson, John Smith, 
George Wakeford, C. Bierwith, John Keelan, John Burnes, Niell Donelly, P. Henley, D. 
Downs, John Trunks, S. RatclifT, P. Mahoney, John Davidson, Michael Dwyer, James Flinn, 

M. Ryan, Walter Roob, D. Reed, Peter M. Calee, Thompson, A. Hansford, James Har- 

mer, Wm. Sprague, D. Whipple, Daniel McCrae, Joseph Brewer, K. Fisher. 

SECOND EKIGADE, COL. KILEY. — SECOND INFANTRY. 

Killed — Serg't Michael Christal ; privates James Olsen, John Schenck. Andrew Devine, 
Wm. Turner. 

Wounded — Capt. George W. Patten ; Lieut. C. E. Jarvis ; sergeants Francis Doud, Alpheue 
Russell; privates Wm. Pollock, D. Hogan, Patrick Sheridan, Jacob Carr, George AV. Derry, 
James Harper, Morris Welsh, Henry Yuill, Lyman Hodgden, Timothy Byrne, Jas. McCul- 
lough, Richard Crangle. 

THIRD INFANTRY, CAPT. ALEXANDER. 

Wounde'l — Lieuts. J. N. Ward, B. E. Bee ; serg't George Reed ; corporal David Kerr ; pri- 
vates Henry Carleton, George Dunn, R. Tonlden, R. Vickers, Nicholas Tyaiis, J. D. Lore, 
J. B. Richardson, Wm. Keaner, C. Smith, J. Malten, Silas Chappel, A. Marsh, Joseph Gallion, 
A. E. Marsh, John McConviUe. Steplien Garble, P. Levy, S. Corey. 

APPEAnANCE OF THE GROUND AFTER THE BATTLE. 

Now, reader, having given an account of the glorious action of Cerro Gordo, as it may be 
interesting to many, we will speak, in this note, of the appearance of the battle-ground a.'"ter- 
■ward, as it appeared to us of the four companies of cavalry, who had come up with Gen 
Quitman's brigade. We remained there for a few days, to assist the 2d Tennessee regv 
ment, who had been left, with one company of regulars, to guard the hospitals of wounded, 
and to spike the cannon, burn the muskets, blow up the magazines, and, as much as possible, 
to destroy all the immense materiel of war, which, with so much labor and expense, had been 
collected at this stronghold by Santa Anna, in the vain hope of entirely defeating us, and 
which materiel was now not wanted by our army. 

Quitman's brigade passed on, and joined the main army at Jalapa. and we commenced car 



598 BLOWING UP MAGAZINES. 

The labor of blowing up the magazines and destroying the 
muskets was hard, and we were all rejoiced, when, after 
three days, we were ordered to leave for Jalapa; for the 
dead men and horses now had become most offensive, and a 
sickening air seemed to rest over the hills and field of car- 
nage. We had lost, while here. Adjutant Reet^e Porter, an 

APPEAUANCE OF THK KIlOL/iNU AFTER THE BATTLE. 

laborious task. Having, in our work, for three days, to traverse, again and again, all parts of 
the ground, we became more familiar with every position, than any other portion of the army 
had tlie opportunity to be ; and the more we walked over its strong positions, the more we 
were struck with admiration of tlie glorious results of the battle. A battleground, after the 
fight, especially when such a rout as this has taken place, presents a melancholy appearance. 

We will give a short sketch of the scenes around, commencing at Plan del Rio. The hos- 
pital here presented a painful spectacle ; all the little cane buildings on the side of the road were 
filled with wounded, who were ranged along on blankets, stretched upon the- bare, hard earth. 
Their situation was uncomfortable ; the pain they were suffernig was dreadful. They lay in 
their ordinary clothing, which, in many instances, was stiff with blood. — Some had been shot 
through the body, and lay groanmg in pain ; others, being struck by cannon balls, had lost their 
arms or legs ; some were shot in the head, neck, or sides ; in every possible manner were they 
wounded. — Some apparently suffered but little, and lay quietly, without a word ; others, una- 
ble to move, were in good spirits, and freely conversed upon the battle, and their part in it. 
Walking around, wore many who had been slightly wounded ; several with the stump of an 
arm tied up in a bandage ; some were shot in two or three places. — One young man was 
shot by a canister ball, through the thigh, and another ball had wounded him, at tho same 
instant, m the left side, while another had taken the cap from his head. — The groans of many 
were heart-rending. — One, who had been hit near the ear, by a canister ball, which had 
ranged down into his neck, and lay deep against the back bone, — so deep that it could not be 
extricated, — every few moments was delirious with pain ; he groaned and rolled in intense 
agony, and in no position could he be relieved ; he turned upon his side, his back, or, rising 
on his hands and knees, would press his fevered forehead against the earth ; most ear- 
nestly and piteously did he continually beg of the attendants to be killed — it was his only 
prayer ; — death, that night, came to his relief — Near him, another young man, clotled with 
gore, from a terrible wound on his head, by grape shot, was sinking under its effects ; he lay 
quietly, and murmured sometimes incoherently, and sometimes plainly, of scenes at home ; 
called upon his mother and his sisters, i.i terms of endearing affection, and wa.s, in imagina- 
tion, at the place of his childhood again ; but never would he be there in reality, — for, before 
he had been brought from the battle-field, the flies had clustered upon his wound, and the worms 
were already working within, beyond the reach of the surgeon to remove. His was a horri- 
ble death. — Another lay near, whose jaw was shattered, tongue torn out, part of his neck gone, 
and hi.s power of speech departed ; but still he lived ; and the quick, restless movements of his 
eyes, showed that he was fully aware of his terrible situation. — The scene in all the houses was 
the same ; men, wounded in every way, all suffering, all bloody ; some improving, some shriek- 
ing with pain, some dying, and some dead; while the new burial ground, near, was receiving 
continually, the victims. Hero, too, were some Mexican soldiers, severely wounded. — After 
gazing at these painful scenes, the author with a companion, saddled their horses, and pro- 
ceeded up the road, to the nearest batteries on the hills, those that had been attacked by Pil- 
low's brigade, and entered No. 2. — ^The dead and wounded had from here been taken down ; 
tho blood, where so many had yielded up their lives, was caked upon the ground, and the 
rocks were smeared with it. — Inside the batteries, the cannon, which had been employed in 
the work of death, still looked grim and threateningly ; piles of sliot were by them ; tin can- 
isters, containing about two hundred and fifty balls each, were ready to be forced down their 
muzzles ; the spongers and rammers lay as they were left; — groat quantities of ammuni 
tion were in the magazines, near by. 

We crossed to No. 3. The same scenes of abandoned cannon, piles of shot, and cases of 
powder, were here ; but with them, too, were great numbers of muskets. From No. 4, to the 
road at 5, the way was strewed with muskets, bayonets, cartridge-boxes, belts, and scabbards, 



APPEARANCE OF BATTLE-GROUND. 599 

officer who had gained the good will of the whole regiment. 
He died at Plan del Rio, directly after our arrival. — One of 
Capt. Newman's men, while out on a foraging party, had ac- 
cidentally shot himself, and was brought in dead. — One of 
Capt. Caswell's men, J. L. Robertson, on a foraging party, 
had been killed, in a fight with some lancers, a few days 

APPEARANCE or THE OIIOUND AFTER THE BATTLE. 

and, in many places, the ground was literally covered with loose cartridges. Here, at this bat- 
tery, No. 5, were four old Spanish cannon, richly carved ; and with them one new one, that had 
recently been cast at the city of Mexico, with its name in large letters upon it, "El Terror 
DELOsNoRTE Americanos," ("the terror of the North Americans"); bulnotmuch terror had it 
in.spired in our troops. A great quantity of arms and ammunition lay around here, trampled 
under foot. — We passed up the sleep height of Cerro Gordo. — Soldiers, with litters, were still 
bringing down the wounded ; and their groans, as we passed, were distressing. On the summit, 
were the blackened cannon, the marks of the deadly conflict, and blood in abundance ; around 
the hill, and all up its side towards Telegrafo, and on the north, the corp.ses lay thickly, as 
they fell, their guns in their hands, or by them. In one place were fifteen, almost in a pile; 
some stabbed with bayonets, some shot in the head, some through the heart : — one had fallen 
by a ball through his brain, as he was holding his gun in his left hand, and biting off the end of 
a cartridge held in his right ; although dead his face had a stern expression of defiance, and his 
left hand yet grasped his gun, and the cartridge was still in the fingers of the right. — Another had 
fallen on his lace so violently, that his cartridge-box was thrown over his shoulder ; his gun was 
still in his hand, the hammer of the lock was drawn back, and, on opening ihe pan, we found 
it loaded. We turned him over, to see where he had been hit, to be killed so suddenly ; a 
large hole between his eyes, showed the passage of the fatal ball. — On opening the cartridge- 
boxes of the dead that lay on their faces, we saw that they had yet plenty of powder and 
ball. Here five lay almost over each other, as they had fallen, in defending the same spot; 
the life-blood of the upper ones, had satur.ited the clothing of the lower. Some had died 
apparently in much agony ; for their countenances were awfully distorted, and their bodies 
Were drawn up and stifTcnedin convulsive movements. — Some, lower down the hill, had evi- 
dently crawled some distance, as shown by the trail of clotted iilood behind them, before they 
died. Many had their heads blown open ; while the entrails of others were out; and one pre- 
sented a horrible appearance, having crawled twenty yards or more, in that terrible situation ; 
several had died with their hands covering their faces. — One, in this way, was leaning back 
against a rock, and appeared as if alive, among the corpses stretched out around him. Some, 
down in the valley, appeared to have been shouting as they were killed, or else uttering their 
cries of mortal agony; for their mouths were opened to their utmost. In almost every in- 
stance where balls had passed through the vitals, the hands wore pressed upon the wounds. 
One muscular body lay with the arms and legs stretched widely out, but without a head; 
the bloody stump was terribly lacerated. One had his stomach entirely torn away, by a 
cannon shot. — So, horribly mangled, they lay thickly to one another, as they fell. — The dead 
bodies of the Americans had been selected out, and buried. — Hundreds of buzzards and vul- 
tures sailed around, but appeared not to touch these Mexican dead ; at least, v/e did not see 
in the multitude any that appeared to have been torn by them. 

Descending the hill, towards the scene of Col. Riley's and Gen. Shields' attack, the same 
sights were before our eyes, until we were sick of the spectacle. — Hearing a groan in the 
bushes, close by a number of dead, we looked in, and saw a lancer, lying stretched out 
bloody, and unable to move; his escopeta lay by him; he held up his hands and cried pite- 
ously for agica (■pv on. ah-w ah), water. We had none to give him; but determined to see 
that the poor fellow should be attended to. — At the scene of Shields' and Baker's attack, the 
dead had been buried, and the wounded taken in. — The dead horses of Canahzo's lancers, shot 
in the furious attack of the Illinoisans, covered a large space of ground; — some of the 
mules of the amnwinition wagons were dead in their harness; a universal scene of destruc- 
tion was all around. — There was a rancho of several cane houses here, and they were nov7 
occupied as hospitals. Entering those on the left side of the road, we looked at the numbers 
of Mexican wounded, thickly covering the floors of the houses; attended by fine-looking 



GOO MARCH TOWARDS JALAPA. 

before. There were so many deaths now, every day, froia 
violence and sickness, that the author found himself unable 
to keep an account of those even in his own regiment. 

It was a bright morning when, to the cheering sound of 
our bugles, we saddled up, Ibrmed our lines, and leaving the 
scenes at Plan del Jlio, commenced ascending the long 
slopes, winding round and up the rugged hills. The road 
was excellent, and we traveled fast ; stopping at battery No. 
5 a short time, again we looked down into the terrible ravine 
below, on the south. It was a grand sight to gaze below, as 
the winding river ran through the vale ; but so awful the 
depth, that few, from giddiness, could bear to look a moment 
down. — We marched over the burnt and blackened ruins 
of Santa Anna's headquarters ; then by the hospitals, where 
Americans and Mexicans — friends and foes — were together 
suffering, and still dying; then passed through the scene of 
the slaughter of Canalizo's lancers ; then on up the long 
paved road, that ascended the mountain's elevation. Mile 
after mile, we continued so to ascend, while the air began 
perceptibly to change. Sixteen miles brought us to the lovely 
valley of Encerro, with its sparkling river, dashing over the 
rocks ; crossed by the road on a stone bridge, of construction 
equal to those before mentioned. Here the sight of dead 
horses and fresh graves, by the side of the road, which had 
met our eyes all along, from Cerro Gordo, ceased ; for at this 
place that terrible slaughter ended. 

Encerro was a beautiful section ; green pastures took the 
place of sterile hills, and clear water was abundant. — Just 
before arriving at the bridge, we crossed a little ditch which 
had been made by the Mexican army for the whole distance 
to Cerro Gordo, in order to convey a stream of water into 

APPEAllANCE OF THE G110U>"D AFTER THE HATTLE. 

Mexican surgeons ; — many Mexican soldiers in atlendance. On the other side, the buildings 
were used for the American wounded. The scenes in these large and crowded hospitals 
were equally painful as those at Plan del Rio. 

We entered the Mexican hos[)ital first, and informed the officer in charge, of the wounded 
lancer, and were promised that he should be attended to. After looking at the scenes of pain 
and distress crowded around, till our hearts were sick with the sight of so much misery and 
suffering, we retraced our steps; — turned out again from the road, to hunt up the lancer among 
the dead. On coming to the place, we found witli him a Mexican soldier, who liad been sent 
to his assistance — carrying to him a large bottle of water and a double handfnl of raw corn! 
which the poor fellow was munching with great eagerness. He was soon after conveyed to 
the hospital j and we returned to Plan del Rio. 



SANTA ANNA'S HACIENDA AT ENCERRO. 601 

their camp ; and this ditch, winding around, encircling 
the hills, carried the waters rapidly. At this spot in its 
course it completely deceived the eye ; and there was not 
one man in a hundred, of the troops that passed over it, to 
whom it did not have the appearance of water running up 
hill. Some declared that it did so, the illusion was so com- 
plete. Neither could that be corrected by a renewed look ; 
for, judging by the eye alone, the more we gazed at the 
ground, the more perfect was the deception, caused by the 
ditch winding around the brow of the green eminence. 

During the halt of an hour, near the bridge, in this de- 
lightful, sunny valley of Encerro, some of us went up to 
Santa Anna's hacienda, which was about half a mile ofl", on 
a long, verdant hill, to the left of the road ; commanding, in 
its position, a view of the valley, the river, and the rugged 
mountains beyond, overlooked by the snowy peak of Orizaba 
— as beautiful a scene as could be desired. — Entering the 
lofty gateways, we followed a curved, paved way up to the 
house ; where, though at first coolly received by the domes- 
tics in charge, yet were soon most cordially welcomed, as 
they found by our actions that we wished not to disturb, but 
to view the place. They showed us, freely, through the 
house ; opened to our observation the arched piazzas, and 
splendid rooms above ; the private office of Santa Anna be- 
low, with its furniture as he had left it a few days before ; 
and pointed out to us the fine framed pictures that adorned 
the apartments. These were, a series of Napoleon's battles ; 
another, of Hannibal's history ; a set of hunting scenes, as 
acted in various parts of the world ; and the plan of a splen- 
did monument to be erected in honor of the Mexican chief. — 
The glasses were large, the carpets fine, the furniture excel- 
lent, the pictures splendid. — In the long gallery, we smiled 
as we observed one of the general's artificial legs lying there, 
booted finely, and excellently manufactured. 

We were shown his services of China and table ware, of 
the best kind ; and every plate and every cup had his name 
upon it, in ornamental scrolls. We were conducted through 
his pleasure grounds ; observed the cascades of falling water, 
in the small river which had been dammed up, and now fell 



■602 ARRIVAL AT JALAPA. 

about fifteen feet, in a sheet on the rocks below, and then 
wound off in several clear channels, which lost themselves 
among the little islands of thick shrubbery, among which it 
hurried along towards the valley below. 

The stone stables, at some distance down the slope of the 
hill, were capacious enough to hold the horses of a cavalry 
regiment. We could have spent several hours in strolling 
about the beautiful place, but the mellow sound of the bu- 
gles arose from the valley ; and, on looking down, we saw 
the column forming for the advance. Mounting our horses, 
we rode over the paved way to the gates, then down a long 
slope to another brook, then up to the road, where we re- 
mained a few moments, until the column came, took our 
places in ranks, and continued our course. — Yet upwards 
we rose ; — the air became more invigorating, the scene fresh- 
er, the green of the foliage deeper. 

Oaks appeared, the first we had seen for a long time ; — 
black jack, sycamore, alder bushes, of enormous size, and 
many of the plants of the temperate zone, to which we were 
accustomed at home, met our eyes. Maguey plants, of the 
largest size, were closely growing among them. Ranches 
became thickly scattered along the road ; good houses, fine 
ctone walls around the green fields, more cultivation of the 
toil, and, in fact, the best appearance met our eyes, both in 
country and people, that we had viewed in Mexico. All were 
exhilarated and delighted by the balmy, bracing air and de- 
lightful garb of nature. Still we were rising, and occasion- 
ally, from a height, could look down on the vast regions of 
■^he torrid zone beneath us. 

A little before sunset, we came over a verdant hill, and 
^efore and below us was the beautiful city of Jalapa, uni- 
versally acknowledged by travelers to be one of the most de- 
lightful places in the world. The tall mountains rose above 
it, green even to the edge of the dazzling snow that eternally 
covered the summit of the loftiest, Orizaba. The city stood 
in the valley, upon several little hills, with its ancient spires. 
its white stone buildings in its large extent, relieved by the 
groves of every sort of tree of freshest green, fragrant flow- 
•ers, and richest fruit. — A fine clear stream coursed by it. 



BEAUTY OF SCENERY. 603 

We closed up our ranks, and descending, crossed the 
bridge, and entered the clean paved streets, with wide side- 
walks and spacious houses of stone on either side. The 
iiendas, or stores were all open, the people engaged at their 
various occupations, the streets crowded with Americans 
and Mexicans, and business was briskly going on, and all 
were apparently friendly. At their iron barred windows 
were many of the ladies, who gazed upon us without fear,* 
and, to our surprise, we noticed them as extremely beautiful. 

The busy view of life, activity and enjoyment, immediately 
banished from our minds, as it had from those of the rest 
of the army M'ho were participating in it, all thought of the 
scenes of death, destruction, and suffering, that we had left 
behind. 

We marched through the crowded streets and market- 
places up the long slope of the city beyond, and passing 
on by the farther boundary, continued our course over the 
hills, looking down into valleys of beauty unknown to us 
before, and in one of these, on the right of the road, en- 
camped with the volunteer division. 

Saturday, May \st, 1847. We have now been at Jalapa 
near a week, and the time has flown so quickly that it seems 
but a day ; for every attraction had been presented to the 
senses and mind. It is the most beautiful spot that any of 
us ever saw — the finest air that ever we inhaled. — The sun 
shines with unusual splendor, and there is not that sickly 
sensation to its heat, although great at noon-day, that is so 
strongly felt in the regions on the coast. It has rained a 
little every night, and the beauty of the morning, as we see 
it from camp, is difficult to conceive — much more so to de- 
scribe. All nature is fresh and green, dressed in smiles ; the 
lofty mountains are tinted then with rosy hues ; — clouds of 
rolling majesty, in brilliant whiteness, lay in massive, strong- 
ly defined volumes, around in the valleys, at their bases. 

♦After VeraCrur, had been taken, Gen. Morales, who there gallantly commanded the Mexi- 
can forces, passed through Jalapa, and informed the people that the American army would soon 
advance upon the interior, and that, if Gen. Santa Anna should be defeated by Gen. Scott, 
their city would fall into the hands of the Americans ; and advised them, in that case, not 
to be alarmed for fear of ill treatment, but to go on with their regular business; — assured the 
females that in such a case they need apprehend no danger from the American soldiers. 



604 LOFTY MOUNTAIN OF ORIZABA, 

Orizaba, lifting high its dazzling top of snow, appears to 
be but a few miles otf, in fact close at hand ; but forty miles 
will hardly reach its base. Its head is elevated seventeen 
thousand feet above the level of the sea ; — our Alleghanies 
and Blue Ridge at home would appear like small eminences, 
when compared with this majestic mountain. On that lofty 
summit no human foot has disturbed the eternal snows, 
Avhich have looked down, from age to age, upon the changing 
races in the lovely and extensive valleys below. 

One can have no idea of the vastness of the scale in 
which mountains, hills and valleys are here thrown together. 
You gaze on a beautiful valley beneath you, on the height 
near the city. It appears close under you ; for the opposite 
mountain, in its grandeur, covered w^ith a robe of verdure, is 
near to you, apparently ; but half a dozen miles will hardly 
carry you across to it. The extraordinary clearness of the 
air assists in the deception. There is no light blue haziness, 
caused by vapor in that distance, as is seen elsewhere, but 
every object, far and near, is plain and distinct. 

Not only is nature so attractive in her appearance of land- 
scapes in this favored section, but she also seems to have 
poured out here, profusely, her richest gifts of grains, of fruits, 
and flowers, and every store that can conduce to the comfort 
of man. And to that, she has added health robust, and driven 
away those lurking causes of disease that infest other sec- 
tions, as intruders who have no right to enter this, her chosen 
paradise. — We had heard before of the beauty and richness 
of this section, but it excelled all our previous ideas ; — not a 
person in the army but was agreeably disappointed in find- 
ing it more beautiful than he anticipated. — Attempts to de- 
scribe its attractions are idle : — to see it, to enjoy it, to 
breathe the air, is only to know it. 

The city, too, taking everything into consideration, was the 
finest that we had seen in Mexico. We were now where 
we could observe the true Mexican character and customs 
more perfectly than before. — We saw, in comparison to what 
we witnessed in the valley of the Rio Grande, just what a 
foreign traveler would see in the United States, in New York, 
Pennsylvania, or any of the older states, compared with the 



SCENES IN JALAPA. 605 

frontiers of the west. The same language was spoken, and 
many of the same customs were observed ; yet one could 
learn more of Mexicans and Mexico here in a week, than 
there in months. But few pretty women had we seen on 
the frontier, and many soldiers, whom the fortune of war kept 
during the campaign in northern Mexico, now firmly believe 
there are but few in the whole country ; yet it is saying no- 
thing more than the truth to observe, that the ladies of Ja- 
lapa are, with few exceptions, beautiful — strikingly so ; and 
their manners are most agreeable and pleasing. 

The male population are, as a body, superior to those that 
we had before met with ; more industrious and enterprising. 
Several cotton and woolen factories are on the streams about 
the city, and all the business within it was brisk and flour- 
ishing.* 

Monday, May Sd. Reader, will you, on this lovely morn- 
ing, again accompany the author into town, to observe some- 
thing more of Mexican manners and customs, than yet you 
are acquainted with. We will have but little to say of the 
scenery to be viewed on both sides of the wide, paved road 
thither, of mountain and valley, and most luxuriant vegeta- 
tion, for we have glanced at that already ; but will hurry 
on to the upper part of town nearest to us, passing the 
crowds of soldiers going in and returning to the camp, the 
numerous hurreros, with their loaded jacks, bearing fodder, 
wood, charcoal, fruits, &c., going in ; and, besides these, you 
see another class, that you have not noticed before : the 
lowest order, or pure descendants of the Indians, which are 
yet distinct in this section. You observe that these are 
ragged and dirty ; the men have large panniprs, or square 
baskets of oranges, pine-apples, &c., on their heads , and 

* We hilve before spoken of the principle of '-protection and remuneration to the Mexi- 
•caiis." This was exemplified at Jalapa, by forcing the volunteer divisions, who were mostly 
■without tents, to camp out. and take the cold rains, at night, (which were the first that had 
fallen upon them for months), as they could, while there was plenty of room in the city for 
their shelter. — This principle was carried to its utmost extent, and never produced tlie slightest 
beneficial results; but, on the conlrary, excited ridicule and contempt among them. For 
instance: at Jalapa, a Mexican proprietor, in less than three days after the battle of Cerro 
Gordo, presented a bill to the quartermaster for the use of fifty of his mules, furnislicd to Santa 
Ainia to haul a twelve pound brass cannon up the height of Ctrro Ciordo, wliicli piece had 
opened upon our troops a perfect shower of grape and canister, killing many and wounding 
more ! Another, who had supported a large body of the Mexican lancers for some time pre- 
vious to the battle, called also, to inquire about getting his pay for it! 



606 MARKET-PLACE OF JALAPA. 

as they stoop forward, in moving with their load, the basket 
is held to its place by a broad band, which passes around 
their foreheads. They carry enormous burdens. The squalid 
women have each a child lashed to their backs. There are 
many of these miserable looking creatures passing. 

We enter the city, and are in a crowd, up and down the 
hilly streets. We will glance at the meat-market, in the 
"Plaza de la Constitucion," and you will notice the neatness 
of the stalls, and of the whole establishment, and the way in 
which they cut their meat, into long strips, for the purchas- 
ers. But although a very busy crowd are around, there is 
nothing more of interest, and we will pass on down, peeping 
into the iron-barred windows of house after house, to gaze at 
the pretty scnoritas, who sit, with their fans in hand, and rich 
rebosos over their glossy hair, and observe all that passes. 
It is no impoliteness here thus to notice them; in fact, you 
will be greeted with a smile, from as lovely lips as ever you 
looked upon, for the compliment you thus pay them. — They 
are beautiful, indeed. — See them, as they come out of their 
houses in numbers, to proceed to the yglesia, or church, to 
hear mass. They walk finely, look neat, and their bright 
black eyes sparkle with intensity of feeling. — Amid these, 
and among the crowd of officers, soldiers, citizens, rancheros, 
burreros, Indians, pack mules, and burros, with here and 
there wagons of our own, we force our way down to the 
vegetable market, near the principal church. This market- 
place is rather small, and, as you enter it, you are aston- 
ished at the throng within, and the immense quantities of 
vegetables and fruits arranged around on stands, or spread 
on mats, to sell ; the piles are near one another, as close 
as they can be placed in rows ; and the buyers and vendors 
are mingled together. Look around, a few minutes, and 
think if ever you have heard of a vegetable, or of many 
fruits, that are not here for sale. Here is an anomaly among 
markets. This ranchero has brought in a fine quantity of 
pine apples, tunas, anonas, sapotes, cocoa-nuts, &c. ; and an- 
other, bananas, plantains, oranges, and lemons, all the pro- 
ducts of the torrid zone ; while another has brought black- 
berries, currants, apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, &;c., 



VARIETY OF CLIMATES NEAR THE CITY. 607 

growing only in the temperate zone; and another has fine 
cherries, plums, and other fruits, which grow only, in perfec- 
tion, still farther north; and yet these different persons live 
not a half day's ride from the city. The ranchero, from the 
torrid zone, meets with his brother, who lives in the tem- 
perate, every week ; and this last performs regular trips, 
oftener than that, into the frigid; and makes a business of 
bringing the snow and ice therefrom, and selling it in the 
market. You can buy drinks, cooled w^ith the snows and ice 
of Orizaba, at the same stand where you purchase the juicy 
fruits of the torrid zone ; and both have been brought to mar- 
ket that morning. — Many other articles are here, besides 
fruits and A^ege tables. Here are stands of sweet-meats 
and confectionery, of kinds, of the making of which our 
people know nothing; thousands of trinkets, of every kind, 
are for sale ; calicoes, silks, sombreros ; and, in fact, every 
article that a Mexican needs, can here be procured. 

On one side of the square, is the parochia, or parish church, 
a large, old building, most elaborately ornamented within; 
Its images and wealth had not been disturbed on the ap- 
proach of our army. Many worshippers are kneeling there, 
on the marble floor, before the Virgin Mary. From this 
church proceeds the " host," or the sacramental bread, when 
going to the death-bed of a citizen. And as this cerernony 
is always most imposing, and is the same in all Catholic 
countries, a full description of it is given in the note ; which, 
as it is minute and correct, will be found interesting.* 

THE PROCF.SSIOX OF THE " HOST." 

* Wlienever a person is about to die, it is indispensable, according to their faith, to the repose 
of his soul, that he confess his sins to the priest, receive alisolution, and partake of the holy 
sacrament; which is commonly carried to him in the twilight of evening, so that its display 
to the population will be greater. The ceiemony universally followed is this: — One of the 
boys attached to the vestry sacrisUa, or establishment of the church, steps out in front of the 
parochia, and violently rines a large hand-bell; thus announcing to all the faithful, that tlie 
body of Christ (sacramental bread), or holy unction of the sacrament, is about to proceed 
upon its mission to the bed of the dying believer. At the sound of the bell, there soon collects, 
within and at the door of the church, a large body of persons, mostly women, each of whom 
is supplied with a lighted wax candle. The parochial coach drives up before the doorway. 
The officiating priest, with holy reverence, takes the vase containing the consecrated wafer, 
from witliin its resting place, in the altar at the extremity of the church, and bears it towards 
the doorway, preceded by two boys, dressed in their church habiliments — red and white robes 
One carries a wooden cross, about five feet high ; the other swings a censer, in whicli incense 
is smoking, diffusing a pleasant odor around. — At the instant the "host" is thus lifted from 
the altar, and borne towards the door, the bells in the tower of the church commence a rapid 
ringing, which is kept up, without intermissior., as long as the procession, about to start, con- 



608 PROPERTY OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT. 

On emerging from the church into the large square again, 
■w^e notice, opposite, a large building, with several of our 
regular soldiers crowded around the arched doorway. This 
is their barracks. The building belongs to the government 
of Mexico, and has been used continually for military bar- 
racks. Observe the inscription painted around the arches : 
" Cuarto de la Guarda National,'' (quarters of the National 
Guard). You must not suppose, however, though this be- 
longs to, it was built by the government: for the gov- 
ernment of Mexico never has done the slightest thing to- 

THE PRCCESSIOX OF THE " H"" ' 

tiniies ill sight of the parochia. The vase of bread, or " hos* ,he door, is reverently placed, 
by the priest, in the centre of the coach, with a lighted ; .per by it ; the priest enters, seats 
himself on the back seat, and remains with his head uncovered in its holy presence. The 
boy with the censer of incense enters before him, and seats himself on the front seat. The 
procession is then formed. — First, the boy with the bell, still ringing, advances about forty 
yards in front ; following him, after an interval, the white and red robed youth, with the 
sacred cross; then a band of music, — clarionettcs, fifes, bugles, and drums, — then an escort 
of soldiers, if there are any in the town, with muskets shouldered j then the parochial coach, 
with its sacred contents ; around the coach, and in its rear, follow the crowd of the faithful, 
with their lighted candles, every one repeating prayers; — in this order they proceed towards 
the dwelling of the dying. — The din of the bells of the parochia ceases, as the procession 
is lost to view in the distant street; but if it comes in sight of another churcli, the bells of 
that commence, and keep up the same noise, while it is within the vievir of the ringers. — 
Amid the din of these bells, the wild strains of the music, the deep sounds of the drums, and 
the confused chant of prayers, from the devout, candle-bearing crowd, whose numbers are 
increased at every step, by others with their tapers, — the solemn procession moves slo\vly 
on. — The sharp, well-known sound of tlie hand-bell gives notice to all of its close approach ; 
— the inhabitants of Ihe buildings on either side, grasp and light their candles, advance to 
their doorways, windows, and even upon the side-walks, and instantly kneel in reverential 
awe, and so remain while the holy train is within their sight. By so doing, they are taught 
that they gain much favor from the blessed Virgin Mary, and secure the forgiveness of many 
of their smaller transgressions , and not only so, but the law forces them so to do ; and, 
therefore, every foreigner, who resides in a Mexican city, whenever he hears the bell, absents 
himself from view. — The lighted throng continues to increase, as the procession advances, 
until, at its arrival at the house of the sick, it not unfrequently numbers five hundred or more 
candle-bearers, of both sexes and all ages. — Arrived, the priest with the vase of holy bread, 
accompanied by the boy with the censer, from the coach, proceeds into the house, leaving 
the crowd and the escort, who continue to chant their prayers, without. — A table within has 
been prepared for the reception of the host, being covered and adorned with pictures of the 
Virgin, Nuestro Senora de Gaudaloupe. the peculiar name of the blessed Virgin in IMexico. — 
The sacrament is administered, and the procession returns by dilTereiit streets from those by 
■which it came, followed by the still increasing crowd; and as now it is commonly dark, it 
makes, with the kneeling worshippers at the houses, and the innumerable lights, a most im- 
posing appearance.^When in sight of the parochia, the bells of that again commence iheir 
rapid ringing, and cease not, until the vase of sacred bread is deposited within the altar. The 
crowd then disperse. 

Such is the procession of the host; precisely the same in every cily and town of Mexico, 
and at all times, with only this difference : that when, on account of the rapid approach of 
death, it must be carried to the sufferer in the daytime, the coach is not used; the priest 
walks, bearing the vase, and four men hold over him a splendid salin canopy. — Respect 
IS always sho%vn to this consecrated bread in tlie church, by raising the hat when passing 
tne aoor. Every Mexican does this at every church, whether he is riding or walking. 



MEXICAN SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN. 609 

wards improvement of old national edifices, or building new 
ones. — It has been occupied with revolutions, and has not 
kept in repair the splendid works that the Spanish power 
erected. It owns much property, though, in ever} large 
town; — some of the most magnificent buildings in the re- 
public belong to it. — The reason is this : — When the .order 
of Jesuit priests, which had become wealthy in Mexico, was 
abolished, and the priests themselves banished by ' .e old 
Spanish power, all their property — churches and ; jivate 
buildings — was taken b}' the government then existing ; and, 
after, the revolu+" on, the whole fell into the hands of th 
can governm -e the cathedrals and parochias v^. 

had been given to the new establishment of the chun • 

These numerous buildings are rented out, used ; 
racks, devoted to city purposes, &c., &c. — Some hav uecii 
given to every town, in charge of the president of the ayun- 
tamiento, for the purpose of the rents thereof being i ijpliea 
to keeping up a public school for children, where these might 
be instructed in reading, writing, a little arithmetic, A\d in. 
all the numerous ceremonies and doctrines of the c 'irc'i . 
which, in fact, is their principal object of education. 

Mexican children are always more precocious and 1: zhter 
than those of our country at the same age. One is ' .ston- 
ished at the genius and talent exhibited by the boys ni 

eight to fourteen years of age ; — but at that age they ?coine- 
dull and stupid, and so afterward continue. 

Let us look into the school near here, and you v II ac- 
knowledge the truth of the remark, from the very int Higent 
appearance of the countenances of the children.— It i i per- 
fect Babel in sound, for every one is studying his cr d, the 
history of some saint, or his spelling book, at the to f hia 
voice ; and such screaming, yelling and chattering ^oing 
on, that you will be glad to get out of it instantly. The old 
pedagogue, who looks so uneasily, is rejoiced to see you 
about to go, though he makes many bows and polite salu- 
tations before you leave. You will observe that most of 
his persuasive arguments addressed to the boys are with a 
sort of rattan, which he lays upon them in a manner that 
shows him equal, in that method of education, to those of 
39 



610 EDUCATION OF MEXICAN YOUTH. 

our country, — a method which should have been long since 
abolished in our own land, but may yet answer in Mexico. 

These young ones can tell you all about every saint in the 
calendar, and recount miracles that they have wrought ; can 
rattle over the creed and Ave Marias, Padre Nucstros, &c., &c., 
and can inform you all about the church ceremonies ; — can 
tell you minutely how even the longest one is done, (Corpus 
Christi,* which takes a week in performance) ; — can write 

* CORPUS CHRISTI FUNCION GRANDE DE LA TGLKSIA. 

Of all the church ceremonies in Mexico in which Ihe people blend religion, recreation, 
pomp, fun and folly, this festival of Corpus Chrisli, of the holy week, is the longest, most formal 
and most imposing, and is strictly attended to in every town of the republic, when it yearly 
comes round. — At Vera Cruz, this year, it was neglected : for, at the time it sliould have com- 
menced, the surrender to our troops had prevented it. At Jalapa, though, it had been cele- 
brated with unusual pomp ; for there were Mexican soldiers to take part in it. It comes on 
immediately after Lent, in the latter part of March. The ceremony, as related to the author 
by those who had just acted it, and who acted it every year, is as follows: 

Sometime in the week previous, the curate of the parochia, with much ceremony, goes 
'o the president of the ayunlamiento, and delivers to him the keys of the church ; thus ac- 
knowledging the inferiority of the ecclesiastical to the civil power. The president immediately 
issues a proclamation to the people of the city, ordering all shops to be closed, all business to 
be suspended, and every animal and vehicle to be kept out of the streets from Wednesday 
morning until Saturday noon of the following week, under penalty of fine and imprisonment; 
and enjoining upon all the inhabitants the necessity of having the streets, through which the 
various processions will pass, cleanly swept and continually sprinkled ; and also of having 
curtains hung before their windows and doors, &c. 

All the population now commence preparing in earnest for the approaching festival; the 
showy dresses of tlie wealthy, and every article of finery of the lower class, is hunted up and 
put in order ; — in fact, these preparations commenced two or three weeks before for the grand 
celebration — in which they are to hunt up Jesus Christ, who will escape their hands, to be 
again apprehended by the aid of Judas, who will betray him. They will try. and condemn 
Jiiin; will crucify him; raise him from the dead; then exalt and worship him; and finally 
will wreak their vengeance on Judas Iscariot. 

On Monday morning the priests go, in a body, to the president of the ayuntamiento, and 
i.umbly beg of that officer the keys of the parochia, that they may dispense the consolations 
of the gospel to the inhabitants of the city for the ensuing year. That functionary grants 
their prayer, delivers to them the keys, and with these they rlturn, and the closed parochia is 
again opened. — In the afternoon of this day, at four, P. M., the first procession of the festival 
makes its appearance from the church, coming out in a most imposing manner. 

First advances a band of music, followed by various banners and crosses of the parochia, 
borne by the church boys, dressed as has been mentioned in the procession of the host. — These 
banners are commonly surrounded by a crowd of idlers. Next, under a splendid silken canopy, 
supported by four men at the corners, come the body of the priests, in their robes; — these, in 
a loud voice, chant prayers as they march, and are answered in the responses to these by the 
multitude behind. Next comes a full length figure of St. Peter, borne on a frame supported 
upon the shoulders of four men. — The saint has in his hand a bunch of large keys (in allusion 
Maltliew xvi: 19.) Following this are many persons with long lighted wax candles, and all 
with their heads uncovered, Then, upon another such a frame, comes the Virgin Mary, but 
borne by four richly dressed ladies. Her right arm is extended, an<l from her hand is sus- 
pended a golden cup. A beautiful radiating crown encircles her head. — Following lier are 
many women, each with their lighted tapers, and many of the other sex in the same manner. 
— Next, borne on a like frame, is the large image of Christ, with a long flowing beard, bearing 
a heavy cross, of perhaps ten feet in height, and the timbers apparently a foot in diameter ; — 
iben numerous files of persons again, with their tapers. Following along at intervals in the 



Festival OF CORPUS cHRisTi. 611 

beautifully; read, and cipher a little, but cannot tell you 
whether St. Petersburgh is in Europe, Asia, or New Holland ; 
— is taught that Mexico is the most powerful nation on the 
earth, and that Spain is the next. Most of the schools are 
of the Lancasterian order, and are of but little advantage. 
Before we leave the crowded, noisy room of bright look- 

conpus cHnisTi — funcion grande te la tglesia. 

dense procession, come, in the same manner, the figures of St. Paul, St. John, St. Matthew, 
and a host of others. This long procession, which is often from a mile to a mile and a half in 
extent, with all persons uncovered, and with so many hundreds, often thousands, of candles, 
makes a most brilliant display. From the moment that the head of the procession moves off 
from the parochia, and while it winds its length through the streets of the city, all the bells 
keep up a ceaseless clatter until it returns again. So ends the first day. 

On Tuesday, early in the morning, in every street may be seen one or more men, dressed 
peculiarly with clothing of all colors: — most have white roundabouts, striped with red across 
their backs ; with strange shaped caps, something like the old style of dragoon helmets, with 
red sashes, depending from their topmost ridges, hanging over their backs. — These carry 
in their hands slender poles of cane from twelve to sixteen feet in length, having a bunch of 
red, white and blue ribbons streaming from the upper ends. These are the Roman soldiers, 
and they are now hunting for Jesus Christ. With an anxious, hurried and wild appearance, 
these soldiers run up to every passerby, with great eagerness inquiring, "Aa visto V Jesu 
Christo! " (have you seen Jesus Christ). Each one thus addressed, with perfect seriousness 
answers " No," and then away rushes the soldier, to ask another. This search is continued 
the whole day. but they do not find their object. — In the afternoon the procession starts out 
again, the same in its parts as on the day before, save that the figure of Christ is missing, and 
the advance is a body of fifty or sixty of these Roman soldiers, with their long staffs, who 
are still continuing their search for Jesus Christ; many are blowing clearly on little wind 
instruments, something like our fifes. 

On Wednesday, the next day, the bells all cease their sounds. Not a horse or vehicle is 
seen in the streets. Christ has been apprehended during the night, by the treachery of Judas, 
and the Roman soldiers are seen, in high glee, to collect around the doors of the parochia, 
rejoicing in the successful termination of their search — In the afternoon the procession again 
moves out, but is materially changed in its order. — As before, first comes the music, crosses 
and banners ; then the Roman soldiers, with the ends of their long poles trailing behind them, 
the ribbons flying in the air before and above them, vibrating with tremulous motion. In 
the midst again, as a prisoner, appears the image of Christ, with the cross.— After him 
follow the priests, chanting prayers and responses in a loud and wild manner. — Next is the 
Virgin Mary, in deep mourning; then Joseph, and Mary Magdalen, Peter and others. This 
night the soldiers keep watch over Christ ; but he escapes : is hunted and overtaken the next 
morning. On this day, Thursday, comes the full acting of the scene of crucifixion, in the 
manner described by the evangelists. — His clothes are divided by lot, &c. ; and the one who 
kills Christ (called by the crowd the Christ-killer) is borne around the streets in triumph. 
When Jesus is thus crucified, the bells stop their former clanging, and are not heard again for 
two days — The body is asked for and obtained by persons representing Joseph, of Arimathea, 
and Nicodemus; (see St. John xix : 38). In the afternoon it is carried about in the proces- 
sion within a frame coffin, with glass sides, for all to see and all to worship. The remainder 
of the procession is like that of the day before, — the Virgin Mary in deep mourning. The only 
other difference is in the missing sound of the bells ; but that is compensated by thousands of 
rattles (like those of our watchmen), which, in the hands of boys and men, kcc-p up a cease- 
less clatter, assisted by a large clacking wheel, in the belfry of the church. To the church 
the body is brought, and placed near the altar, and a guard of two persons at a time keep 
walch over it the remainder of the day and following night, — on Friday, and Friday night, — 
until Saturday. The.se guards are regularly detailed from the best of the population, and, 
with lighted candles in their hands, stand their time of thirty minutes, when they are relieved 
by others. And thus ends Thursday. 



612 FOUNTAINS— PUBLIC WASHING-PLACE. 

ing urchins, we will examine their written copies • and these, 
from the universally beautiful execution, will astonish you ; 
and it is surprising, when compared with the performances 
of our youth. — Every Mexican, that writes at all, writes finely; 
some excelling even our best writing-masters. The immense 
amount of their army papers and reports, that we have cap- 
tured from time to time, are executed in a style nearly equal 
to that of copper-plate printing. 

We will leave them, and come again into the street ; and, 
passing on, w^e will observe that many of the spacious courts 
within the houses are provided with fountains and jets of 
water, producing a fine effect. — We observe a public wash- 
ing place, of long, stone reservoirs, with roofs above them ; 

COnPUS CHHISTI FCXCIOff GUAXDE DE L.V TGLKSIA. 

On Friday, is an entirely changed scene. The cliurclies are lit uji with the utmost splendor • 
from five to eight hundred candles difTuse their light around in each ; while every decoration that 
can, by the ingenuity of the inhabitants, be placed within, is added ; nothing is omitted tliat can 
increase the splendor. — The people, dressed in their richest attire, go in groups, companies, or 
families, from church to church, repeating prayers all the while, as Ihey pass with heads un- 
covered. This they call their pilgrimage; and every church in the city must bo on foot thus 
visited, in the course of the day, by every person, rich or poor. — This brilliant scene is kept 
up until twelve o'clock at night. 

The next day, Saturday, is called Sabado de Gloria, Sabbath of Glory; and at about eleven 
o'clock the bells, which so long have been silent, burst out from every church, in one peal, thus 
announcing that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead ! And now conies a scene. A moment 
before, the horses were standing saddled in the yards ; the coaches \vere harnessed ; the boys 
■were collected at the corners of the streets ; the Roman soldiers, in their odd dress, were walk- 
ing in consequence about, having crucified Jesus ; and everything was unusually still. — But at 
the first clap of the bells, rises through the city a wild hurra and uproar. Christ has risen. The 
Roman soldiers run as if for lite, witli the rabble in pursuit of them. — In every direction the 
court-yard gates open, and hundreds of horsemen issue into the street, and wildly gallop to 
and fro. — The streets are crowded; the curtains, that hung at the windows and doors, disap- 
pear in a twinkling; all is noise, confusion, fun, frolic, and mirth — for the Redeemer lives ! 

The next day, Sunday, gives the end to this/wncion grayide de la Yglesia (grand ceremony of 
the church), which is, the vengeance to be taken by the mob upon Judas Iscariot, who betrayed 
his master. — The first part of the day is spent in adoration of the risen Saviour; and about 
twelve o'clock the indignation of the people appears to be aroused against the traitor. '• Van a 
quetnar a Judas " (they are about to burn Judas) is clamored in one street, echoed in another, 
and vociferated by the boys and rabble, everywhere. Immediately after this a crowd, with 
music, advances into the principal square, bearing aloft, on a pole, the full length figure of the 
traitor, with his right hand holding to his hat on his head. He has been ingeniously construct- 
ed by the Saeristati, or sexton; and is composed entirely of a mass of rockets, crackers, and 
otlier fireworks, and is commonly made a fac-simile of some tbreign merchant, who may reside 
in tlic place, and who is a Protestant or heretic. The pole is planted in the earth ; the tumultu- 
ous crowd sway to and fro, in their excitement ; highly elevated on the pole is Judas, awaiting 
his doom; the combustible string, that leads up to him is ignited; the little flame runs up, and 
the traitor immediately experiences the most awful torments; his hands, his body, and head 
burst out in numberless small explosions and flames ; he whirls round and round on the pole; 
his hat flics off, and with it his arm extends itself with a jerk, and he turns faster as the 
flames are more severe : they reach within, and a loud explosion, amid the shouts of the 
delighted populace, blows Judas to the four winds of heaven. — And so ends the grand cere- 
jnony of the church, in Mexico. 



ORDER FOR DISCHARGE OF VOLUNTEERS. G13 

washing benches — one built on either side, of the same ma- 
terial ; and scores of women are there washing. — We notice 
that everything around us is entirely Mexican in appearance. 
But our observations must close, for here rides up an officer, 
ordering all of us to camp, preparatory to another march, to 
be immediately made to Puebla, on the road to the city of 
Mexico. 

Tuesday, May 4th. This day Gen. Scott countermanded the 
orders given yesterday, for a farther march ; and, as the time 
of the twelve months' volunteers was nearly expired, he had 
suddenly concluded to discharge them, and thus enable them 
to leave Vera Cruz before the vomito should reach its height. 

Accordingly, on the next day, — Wednesday, May 5th, — 
Maj. Gen. Patterson issued the order in the note below^, — 
being the last general order addressed to us.* 

* Headquarters, Volunteer Division, ) 
Jalapa, Mexico, May 5th, 1847. J 
Orders, No. 17. 

In accordance with the orders from tlie Headquarters of the army, the Tennessee cavalry 
the 1st and 2d Tennessee, the 3d and 4tli Illinois, the Georf^ia and the Alabama regiments of 
infantry, and Capt. Williams' company of Kentucky volunteers, will be held in readiness to 
march to Vera Cruz, thence to embark for New Orleans, where they will be severally and 
honorably mustered out of the service of the United Stales, and paid offbythe proper officers 
on duty there. 

To facilitate the inarch. Col. Campbell, with the regiment of Tennessee liorsc. the 1st and 
2d Tennessee infantry, and the company of Kentucky volunteers, will march to-morrow morn- 
ing, the Cth instant. 

The 3d and 4th Illinois regiments, under Col. Forman, will march to-morrow, at two, P. M. 

The Georgia and Alabama regiments, under Col. Jackson, will march on the morning of 
Ihe 7th instant. 

The troops will march witli their arms, ten rounds of ammunition, and their personal ef- 
fects, and will turn in at this place all tents, and such other articles of camp equipage as may 
not be indispensable on the return march. 

Each man will take in his haversack hard bread for four days, and bacon for two days. — 
The Brigade Commissaries will obtain from the Chief Commissary money to purchase fresh 
beef, on the road, for two days. 

The Quartermasters of the command will make the proper requisitions on the acting Quar- 
termaster General for the necessary transjiortation. 

In promulgating this order for these gallant regiments to return to the United States, the 
Major General, while he regrets that the term of their service will not afford another oppor- 
tunity for these troops to gather additional fame in the future events of this already brilliant 
campaign, cannot forget that the recollections of a glorious past will be carried to their homes 
The services of the twelve months' volunteers will ever be perpetuated in their country's his- 
tory with the remembrances of Monterey, Buena Vista, Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 

The Major General avails himself of this occasion to take leave of the 1st and 2d Pennsyl- 
vania, the South Carolina and the New York volunteers, and to tender his thanks to Brigadier 
General (now Major General) Quitman, and them, for their obedience to orders, attention to 
duty, and their faithful, ready and cheerful support, under all emergencies, since th<^y have 
been under his command ; and he assures these fine corps, and their gallant and accomplish^ 
cd commander, that he will always be happy to meet, and to serve with them. 

By order of Major General Patterson : 

(Signed) WM. H. FRENCH, Actins Asst. Adjt. Gen. 



614 COMMENCEMENT OF THE RETURN MARCH. 

We commenced the return march, from the city of Jalapa, 
on the morning of the 6th of May. It was a lovely day ; the 
air was clear, and Orizaba showed its height of snow more 
plainly than usual. For a sketch of this mountain, taken 
this morning, see plate opposite.* 

We arrived at Vera Cruz, on the 8th, without any circum- 
stances worthy of note, save some skirmishing with guerril- 
las. We sold our horses there, to the quartermaster's depart- 
ment, and immediately embarked on board the ships ready in 
the harbor, and a few days' sail brought us to New Orleans ; 
where, on the last of May, we were mustered out of the ser- 
vice of the United States, with the other twelve months' vol- 
unteers, who were arriving from Gen. Taylor's division. We 
were paid off and discharged, and, for the first time in near 
twelve months, felt ourselves at libert3^ — Every man com- 
menced thinking, planning, and acting for his future inter- 
ests ; and each experienced a feeling of pride, upon reflect- 
ing that he had nobly served his country for one year of his 
life. But with our joy a feeling of sadness was mingled, 
when we thought of the many brave spirits that a year be- 
fore had gone out with us, who now returned not, — fallen in 
the ranks before the enemy, or sunk beneath the baneful 
efl^ects of a sickly climate. — Of the eighteen thousand twelve 
months' volunteers that then had been marshaled for the 
conflict, not twelve thousand could now be mustered. 

And now, reader, the long account is brought to a close ; 
and if to the minds of his former fellow-soldiers the author 
has succeeded in bringing past scenes freshly in review, — and 
if to the general reader he has given a clear idea of those 
transactions and events, — his object is fully accomplished. 

*In the foreg;rouiKl of this view the artist was directed to place part of the column of cav- 
alry and infantry of the twelve months' volunteers, as they commenced the return march, and 
which, from want ot' time, had not been placed on it by the autlior. When again he saw the 
picture, on being finished, he perceived that only part of one company of cavalry had there 
been placed, and those were represented as going at full speed, as if on a charge, apparently 
delighted at the idea of return. — But, however gratifying this might have been to them, the 
march was made in regular columns of tvi-os, with the same steady motion as at all other times, 
save in the charge, or in pursuitof the enemy. — A long plume and beaver had also been placed 
on the head of one of the oiTicers. The author has no recollection of ever seeing one of these 
m the American army in Mexico, save upon one occasioir — that worn by Gen. Worth, at the 
scene of the surrender of Vera Cruz. — Being amused, however, at the idea of the hurry to 
return, expressed by the position of these soldiers, ar.d thinking that it would perhaps strike 
the minds of his ibrmer comrades in the same manner, he allowed the picture to remain unal- 
tered. — It gives a correct view of Orizaba and the neighboring mountains. 



APPENDIX. 



After the twelve months' volunteers had left the army, Gen. Scott remained at Puebia, 
which had been previously taken, until he was reinforced by the arrival of other troops, from 
the United States, all of which were mustered in for the war. As these reinforcements moved 
up from Vera Cruz, along the national road, they were violently opposed in their progress by 
bodies of guerrillas, now become formidable, and whose method of fighting was without 
quarter, or in their own ^vords, " without pity unto death." 

These had severe conflicts with the forces of Gen. Pillow, Gen. Cadwalader, Gen. Pierce, 
Gen. Lane, Major Lally, and others ; but they were worsted in every conflict, save one, at the 
National Bridge, in which they defeated the small detachment of Capt. Wells, and forced him 
to retreat, with the entire loss of his train, and many men killed and wounded. Major Lally's 
command fought nearly every foot of the way from Vera Cruz to Jalapa; the report having 
spread among the guerrillas, that in the train he had with him was contained, in specie, over 
a million of dollars. 

On the 6th of August, the army commenced the march from Puebia, towards the city of 
Mexico. Now, the Mexican army, in great numbers, posted in strong fortifications, awaited 
them ; having entirely recovered from the effects of the rout at Cerro Gordo. — For an account 
of the succeeding glorious battles, and the final capture of the city of Mexico, the reader is 
referred to the dispatches of Gen. Scott: 

HEABQtJAIlTEKS OP THK ARMY, ) 

Tacubata, at the Gates of Mexico, Aug. 28, 1847. J 

Sir — My report, No. 31, commenced in the night of the 19th instant, closed the operations 
of the army with that d.ay. 

The morning of the 2Uth, opened with one of a series of unsurpassed achievements, all in 
view of the capital, and to which I shall give the general name — the battle of Mexico. 

In the night of the 19th, brigadier generals Shields, P. F. Smith, and Cadwalader. and Col. 
Eiley, with their brigades, and the 15lh regiment, under Col. Morgan, detached from Brig. Gen. 
Pierce, found themselves in, and about, the important position, the village, hamlet, or hacien- 
da, called indiflerently, Contreras, Ansalda, San Gerenano — half a mile nearer to the city, than, 
the enemy's entrenched camp, on the same road, towards the factory Magdalena. 

That camp had been, unexpectedly, our formidable point of attack, the afternoon before; 
and we had now to take it, without the aid of cavalry or artillery, or to throw back our ad- 
vanced corps upon the road from San Augustin to the city, and thence force a passage through 
San Antonio. 

Accordingly, to meet contingencies, Maj. Gen. Worth was ordered to leave, early iu the 
morning of the 20th ; one of his brigades to mask San Antonio, and to march with the other, 
six miles, via San Augustin, upon Contreras. A like destination was given to Maj. Gen 
Quitman, and his remaining brigade, in San Augustin — replacing, for the moment, the garri- 
son of that important depot, with Harney's brigade of cavalry, as horse could not pass over 
the intervening rocks, &c., to reach the field of battle. 

At three o'clock, A. M.. the great movement commenced on the rear of the enemy's camp, 
Riley leading, followed successively, by Cadwalader's and Smith's brigades ; the latter tem- 
porarily under the orders of Major Dimmick, of the 1st artillery — tlie whole force being com- 
manded by Smith, the senior in the general attack, aud whose arrangements, skill, and gal- 
lantry, always challenge the highest admiration. 

The march was rendered tedious, by the darkness, rain, and mud ; but about sunrise, Riley, 
conducted by Lieut. Tower, engineer, had reached an elevation behind the enemy, whence 

(615) 



61 G APPENDIX. 

he precipitated his columns, stormed the entrenchments, planted his several colors upon them, 
and carried the work — all in seventeen minutes. 

I doubt whether a more brilliant or decisive victory, taking into view, ground, artificial de- 
fences, batteries, and the extreme disparity of numbers, without cavalry or artillery, on our 
side, is to be found on record. Including all our corps directed against the entrenched camp, 
with Shields' brigade at the hamlet, we positively did not number over four thousand five 
hundred, rank and file ; and we knew, by sight, and since, more certainly, by many captured 
documents and letters, that the enemy had actually engaged on the spot seven thousand men, 
with at least tvi^elve thousand more hovering within sight, and striking distance — both on the 
19ih and -iOth. ..All, not killed or captured, now fled with precipitation. 

Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved : one road to the capital opened : seven 
hundred of the enemy killed : eight hundred and thirteen prisoners, including among them, 
eighty-eight officers, four generals, besides many colors and standards : eighty-two pieces of 
brass ordnance — half of large calibre — thousands of small arms and accoutrements, and im- 
mense quantities of shot, shells, powder, and cartridges, seven hundred pack mules, many 
horses, &c., &c. — all in our hands. 

One of the most pleasing incidents of the victory, is the recapture, in the works, by Capt. 
Drum, 4th artillery, under Major Gardner, of the two brass six pounders, taken from another 
company of tlie same regiment, though without the loss of honor, at the glorious battle of Buena 
Vista — about which guns the whole regiment had mourned for so many long months ! Com- 
ing up a little later, I had the happiness to join in the jirotracted cheers of the gallant 4lh, on 
the joyous event ; and indeed, the whole army sympathises in its just pride and exultation. 

The battle being won before the advancing brigades of Worth's and Quitman's divisions 
were in sight, both were ordered back to their late positions. Worth, to attack San Antonie 
in front, with his whole force, as soon as approached in the rear, by Pillow's and Twiggs' 
divisions — moving from Contreras, through San Angel and Coyoacan. By carrying San An- 
tonio, we knew that we should open another — a shorter and better — road to the capital, for 
our siege and other trains. 

Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by a cross road, from the rear of San Antonio, I first de- 
tached Capt. Lee, engineer, with Capt. Kearney's troops, 1st dragoons, supported by the rifle 
regiment. Major Loring, to reconnoitre that strong point ; and next dispatched Maj.Gen. Pil- 
low, with one of his brigades (Cadwalader's), to make the attack upon it, in concert with 
Maj. Gen. Worth, on the opposite side. ' 

At the same time, by another road to the left, Lieut. Stevens, of the engineers, supported by 
Lieut. G. W. Smith's company of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to recon- 
noitre the strongly fortified church, or convent, of San Sablo, in the liamlet of Churubusco, one 
mile off". Twiggs, with one of his brigades (Smith's — less the rifles), and Capt. Taylor's field 
battery, were ordered to follow, and to attack the convent. Major Smith, senior engineer, was 
dispatched to concert with Twiggs, the mode and means of attack, and Twiggs' other brigade 
(Riley's), I soon ordered up to support him. 

Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce (just able to keep the saddle), with his brigade 
(Pillow's division), conducted by Capt. Lee, engineer, by a third road, a little farther to our 
left, to attack the enemy's right and rear, in order to favor the movement upon the convent, and 
cut off" the retreat towards the capital. And, finally. Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce, with 
the New York and South Carolina volunteers (Quitman's battalion), was ordered to follow 
Pierce, closely, and to take the command of our left wing. All these movements were made 
with the utmost alacrity by our gallant troops and commanders. 

Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which so many roads conveniently branched, without 
escort or reserve, I had to advance, for safety, close upon T'wiggs' rear. The battle now 
raged from the right to the lel't of our whole line. 

Learning, on the return of Capt. Lee, that Shields, in the rear of Churubusco, was hard- 
pressed, and in danger of being out-flanked, if not overwhelmed, by greatly superior numbers, 
I immediately sent under Major Sumner, 2d dragoons, the rifles (Twiggs' reserve), and Capt. 
Sibley's troop, 2d dragoons, then at hand, to support our left, guided by the same engineer. 

About an hour earlier. Worth had, by skiUt'ul and daring movements upon the front and 
light, turned, and forced San Antonio — its garrison, no doubt much shaken by our decisive 
victory at Contreras. 

The forcing of San Antonio was the second brilliant event of the day. 

Worth's division, being reunited in hot pursuit, he was joined by Maj. Gen. Pillow, who, 
marching from Coyoacan, and discovering that Sun Antonio had been carried, immediately 



BATTLE OF CHURUBUSCO. 017 

turned to the left, according to my instructions, and, though much impeded by ditches and 
swamps, hastened to the attack of Churubusco. 

Tlie liamlet, or scattered houses, bearing this name, presented, besides the fortified convent, 
a strong field-work {lete de pont), with regular bastions and curtains, at the head of a bridge, 
over which the road passes from San Antonio to the capital. 

The whole remaining forces of Mexico — some twenty-seven thousand men, cavalry, artil- 
lery, and infantry, collected from every quarter — were now in, on the flanks, or within sup- 
portingdistanee of those works, and seemed resolved to make a last and desperate stand; for, 
if beaten here, the feebler defences at the gates of the city — four miles off — could not, as •was 
well known to both parties, delay the victors an hour The capital of an ancient empire, now 
of a great republic, or an early peace, the assailants were resolved to win. Not an Ameri- 
can, and we were less than a third of the enemy's numbers, had a doubt as to the result. 

The fortified church, or convent, hotly pressed by Twiggs, had already held out about an 
hour, when Worth and Pillow — the latter having with him only Cadwalader's brigade — began 
to manccuvre closely upon the iete de ponl, with the convent at half gun-shot, to their left. — 
Garland's brigade (Worth's division), to which had been added the light battalion under Lieut. 
Col. Smith, continued to advance in front, and under the fire of a long line of infantry, off on 
the left of the bridge ; and Clarke, of the same division, directed his brigade along the road 
or close by its side. Two of Pillow's and Cadwalader's regiments, the 11th and 14th, sup- 
ported and participated in this direct movement; the others (the voltigeurs), were left in 
reserve. Most of these corps — particularly Clark's brigade — advancing perpendicularly, 
were made to sutler much by the fire of the me de ponl ; and they would have suffered greatly 
more by flank attacks from the convent, but lor the pressure of Twiggs, on the other side of 
that work. 

This well-combined, and daring movement, at length reached the principal point of attack, 
and the formidable tele de pout was, at once, assaulted and carried by the bayonet. Its deep 
wet ditch was first gallantly crossed by the 8th and 5th infantry, commanded, respectively, 
by Major Waite and Lieut. Col. Scott, followed closely, by the Gth infantry (same brigade), 
which had been so much exposed in the road, the 11th regiment, under Lieut. Col. Graham, 
and the 14th, commanded by Col. Trousdale, both of Cadwalader's brigade, Pillow's division, 
About the same time, the enemy, in front of Garland, after a hot conflict of an hour and a 
half, gave way, in a retreat towards the capital. 

The immediate results of this third signal triumph on the day were : three field pieces, osie 
hundred and ninety-two prisoners, much ammunition, and two colors, taken in the iete de 
ponl. 

Finally, twenty minutes after the tele de ponl had been carried by Worth and Pillow, and at 
the end of a desperate conflict of two hours and a half, the church or convent — the citadel of 
this strong line of defence along the rivulet of Churubusco — yielded to Twiggs' division, and 
threw out on all sides signals of surrender. The white flags, however, were not exhibited 
until the moment when the 3d infantry, under Capt. Alexander, had cleared tlie way by fire 
and bayonet, and had entered the work. Capt. J. M. Smith and Lieut. O. L. Shepheard, both 
of that regiment, with their companies, had the glory of leading the assault. The former re- 
ceived the surrender, and Capt. Alexander instantly hung out, from a balcony, the colors of 
the gallant 3d. I\laj. Dimick, w^ith a part of the 1st artillery, serving as infantry, entered 
nearly abreast with the leading troops. 

Capt. Taylor's field battery, attached to Twiggs' division, opened its effective fire, at an 
early moment, upon the out-works of the convent and the tower of its church. Exposed to 
the severest fire of the enemy, the captain, his officers and men, won universal admiration ; 
but at length, much disabled, in men and horses, the battery was, by superior orders, wth- 
drawn from the action thirty minutes before the surrender of the convent. 

The immediate results of this victory were ; the capture of seven field-pieces, some am- 
munition, one color, three generals, and 1,201 prisoners, including other officers. 

Capt. E. A. Capron and M. J. Burke, and Lieut. S. Hoffman, all of the 1st artillery, and 
Capt. J. W. Anderson and Lieut. Thomas Easley, both of the 2d infantry — five oflicers of 
rare merit — fell gallantly before the work. 

The capture of the enemy's citadel was the fourth great achievement of our arms in the 
same day. 

In a winding march of a mile around to the right, this temporary division found itself on the 
edge of an open wet meadow, near the road from San Antonio to the capital, and in the pres- 
ence of some four thousand of the enemy's infantry, a little in rear of Churubusco, on that 



618 APPENDIX. 

road.— Establishing the right at a strong building, Shields extended his left parallel to the 
road, to outflank the enemy towards the capital. But the enemy extending his right, suppor- 
ted by 3,000 cavalry, more rapidly, (being favored by better ground), in the same direction, 
Shields concentrated the division about a hamlet, and determined to attack in front. The 
battle was long, hot, and varied ; but ultimately, success crowned the zeal and gallantry of 
our troops, ably directed by their distinguished commander. Brig. Gen. Shields. The <Jtli,12th 
and loth regiments, under Col. Ransom, Capt. Wood, and Col. I\Iorgnn. respectively, of 
Pierce's brigade, (Pillow's division), and the New York and South Carolina volunteers, under 
colonels Burnett and Butler, respectively of Shields' own brigade, (Quitman's division), to- 
gether with the mountain howitzer battery, now under Lieut. Reno, of the ordnance corps, all 
shared in the glory of this action — ouxjiflh victory in the same day. 

Brig. Gen. Pierce, from the hurt of the evening before — under pain and exhaustion — fainted 
in the action. Several other changes in command occurred on this field. 

Shields took 3S0 prisoners, including officers ; and it cannot be doubled that the fate of the 
conflict between him and the enemy, just in the rear of the tele de pont and the convent, had 
some influence on the surrender of those formidable delences. 

As soon as the tete de potit was carried, the greater part of Worth's and Pillow's forces 
passed that bridge' in rapid pursuit of the flying enemy. These distinguished generals, com- 
ing up with Brig. Gen. Shields, now also victorious, the three continued to press upon the fu- 
gitives to within a mile and a half of the capital. Here, Col. Harney, with a small part of his 
brigade of cavalry, rapidly passed to the front, and charged the enemy up to the nearest gate. 
The cavalry charge was headed by Capt. Kearney, of the 1st dragoons, having in squadron, 
with his own troop, that of Capt. McReynolds, of the 3d — making the usual escort to general 
headquarters; but being early in the day detached for general service, was now under Col. 
Harney's orders. The gallant captain, not hearing the recall, dashed up to the San Antonio 
gate, sabreing, in his way, all wlio resisted. 

So terminated the series of events, which I have but feebly presented. My tlianks were 
freely poured out on the different fields — to the abilities and science of generals and other offi- 
cers — to the gallantry and prowess of all — the rank and file included. But a reward infinitely- 
higher — the aiiplause of a grateful country and government — will, I cannot doubt, be accorded, 
in due time, to so much merit, of every sort, displayed by this glorious army, which has now 
overcome all difticulties — distance, climate, ground, fortifications, and numbers. 

It has in a single day, in many battles, as often defeated 32,000 men ; made about 3.000 pris- 
oners, including eight generals, (two of them ex-presidents), and 205 other officers ; killed or 
wounded 4,000 of all ranks — besides entire corps dbspersed and dissolved; — captured 37 pieces 
of ordnance — more than trebling our siege train and field batteries — with a large number of 
small arms, a full supply of ammunition of every kind, &c., &c. Tliese great results have 
overwhelmed the enemy. 

Our loss amounts to 1.053 — killed, 469, including 16 officers ; wounded, 876, with 60 officers. 
The greater number of the dead and disabled were of the highest worth. — Those under treat- 
ment, thanks to our very able medical officers, are generally doing well. 

I regret having been obliged, on the 20lh, to leave Maj. Gen. Quitman, an able commander, 
with a part of his division — the fine 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, and the veteran detach- 
ment of United States' marines — at our important depot, San Augustin. It was there that I 
had placed our sick and wounded ; the siege, supply and baggage trains. If these had been 
lost, the army would have been driven almost to despair, and considering the enemy's very 
great excess of numbers, and the many approaches to the depot, it might well have become, 
emphatically, the post of honor. 

After so many victories, we might, with but little additional loss, have occupied the 
capital the same evening. But Mr. Trist, commissioner, (Sec. as well as myself, had been ad- 
monished by the best friends of peace — intelligent neutrals, and some American residents — 
against precipitation ; lest, by wantonly driving away the government and others — dishonor- 
ed — we might scatter the elements of peace, excite a spirit of national desperation, and thus 
indefinitely postpone the hope of an accommodation. Deeply impressed with this danger, and 
remembering our mission — to conquer a peace — the army very cheerfully sacrificed to patri- 
otism — to the great wish and want of our country — the edat that would have followed an en- 
trance—sword in hand — into a great capital. Willing to leave something to this republic — 
of no immediate value to us — on which to rest her pride, and to recover temper — I halted our 
victorious corps at the gates of the city, (at least for a time), and have them now cantoned 
in the neigliboring villages, where they are well sheltered, and supplied with all necessaues. 



CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. 019 

On the morning of the 21st, being about to take up battering or assaulting positions, to au- 
thorize me to summon the city to surrender, or to sign an armistice, willi a pledge to enter at 
once into negotiations for a peace — a mission came out to propose a truce. Rejecting its 
terms, I dispatched my contemplated note to Gen. Santa Anna — omitting the summons. The 
22d, commissioners were appointed by the commanders of the two armies ; the armistice was 
signed the 23d, and ratifications exchanged the 24th. 

All matters in di.spute between the two governments have been thus happily turned over 
to their plenipotentiaries, who have had several conferences, and with, 1 think, some liope 
of signing a treaty of peace. 

There will be transmitted to the Adjutant General reports from divisions, brigades, &c., 
on the foregoing operations, to which I must refer with my hearty concurrence in the just ap- 
plause bestowed on corps and individuals by their respective commanders. I have been 
able — this report being necessarily summary — to bring out. comparatively but Utile of indi- 
vidual merit not lying directly in the way of the narrative. Thus, I doubt whether 1 have, in 
express terms, given my approbation and applause to the commanders of divisions and inde- 
pendent brigades ; but left their fame upon higher grounds — the simple record of their deeds 
and the brilliant results. 

To tlie staff, both general and personal, attached to general headquarters, I was again un- 
der high obligations for services in the field, as always in the bureaux. 

I had the valuable services, as volunteer aids, of majors Kirby and Van Buren, of the pay 

department, always eager for activity and distinction ; atid of a third, the gallant Major J. P. 

Gaines, of the Kentucky volunteers. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with high respect. 

Your most obedient servant, 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 
Hon Wm. L. Marct, Secretary of War. 

But this armistice was only used by Santa Anna for the purpose of re-uniting his scattered 
troops, and of throwing all their power together, for a desperate defence of the city! Negotia- 
tions were broken off on the 6th of September, and on the 8th, Gen. Worth attacked the strong 
position of Molino del Rey, or King's Mill, and took it. but with severe loss on both sides. — 
This was followed by the most spirited operations, of which the following is Gen. Scott's 
report; — 

[No. 34.] Headquarters or the Army, ) 

National Palace of Mexico, Sept. IS, 1S47. \ 

Sir — At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant operations, of more than forty- 
eight hours' continuance, this glorious army hoisted on the mormng of the 14th, the colors of 
the United States on the walls of this palace. 

The victory of the 8th at the Molino del Rey, was followed by daring reconnoissances, on 
the part of our distinguished engineers — Capt. Lee, lieutenants Beauregard, Stevens, and 
Tower — Major Smith, senior, being sick, and Capt. Mason, third in rank, being wounded. — 
Their operations were directed principally to the south — towards the gates of Piedad, San 
Angel (Nino Perdido) San Antonio, and the Paseo de la Viga. 

This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of an irregular basin, and is 
girdled with a ditch in its greater extent — a navigable canal of great breadth and depth — very 
difficult to bridge, in the presence of an enemy, and serving at once for drainage, cuslora-house 
purposes, and military defence — leaving eight entrances of gates, over arches ; each of which 
we found defended by a system of strong works, that seemed to require nothing but some men 
and guns, to be impregnable. Outside and within the cross-fires of those gates we found to 
the south, other obstacles, but little less formidable. All the approaches near the city, are 
over elevated causeways, cut in many places (to oppose us), and flanked on both sides by 
ditches, also of unusual dimensions. The numerous cross-roads are flanked in like manner, 
having bridges at the intersections, recently broken. The meadows thus chequered, are 
moreover, in many spots under water, or marshy ; for it will be remembered, we were in the 
midst of the wet season, though w'ah less rain than usual, and we could not wait for the fall 
of the neighboring lakes, and the consequent drainage of the wet grounds at the edge of the 
city — the lowest in the whole basin. 

After a close personal survey of the southern gates, covered by Pillow's division and Ri- 
ley's brigade of Twiggs', with four times our numbers concentrated in front, I determined ou 
the 11th, to avoid that net-work of obstacles, and to seek, by a sudden inversion to the south- 
west and west, less unfavorable approaches. To economise the lives of our gallant officers 
and men, as well a.s to insure success, it became indispensable that this resolution should be 



620 APPENDIX. 

long masked from the enemy; and again, that the new movement, when discovered, should 
be mistaken for a feint, and the old as indicating our true and ultimate point of attack. — Ac- 
cordingly, on the spot, the lltli, I ordered Quitman's division from Coyoacan, to join Pillow, 
by daijlig/tt, before the southern gates, and then, that the two major generals, with their divis- 
ions, sliould, by night, proceed (two miles) to join me at Tacubaya, where I was quartered with 
Worth's division. Twiggs, with Riley's brigade, and captains Taylor's and Steptoe's field 
batteries— the latter of Iwclve-pounders — was left in front of those gates, lo manceuvre, to 
threaten, or to make false attacks, in order lo occupy and deceive the enemy. Twiggs' other 
brigade (Smith's), was left at supporting distance, in the rear, at San Angel, till the morning 
of the 13th, and also to support our general depot at Miscoac. The stratagem against the 
south was admirably executed throughout the 12th, and down to the afternoon of the 13th, 
when it was too late for the enemy to recover from the effect of his delusion. 

The first step in the new movement was to carry Chapultepec, a natural and isolated mound, 
of great elevation, strongly fortified at its base, on its acclivities, and heights. Besides a nu- 
merous garrison, here was the military college of the republic, with a large number of sub- 
lieutenants, and other students. Those works were within direct gun-shot of the village of 
Tacubaya, and, until carried, we could not approach the city on the west, without making a 
circuit too wide and loo hazardous. 

In the course of the same night (that of the 11th), heavy batteries, within easy ranges were 
established. No. 1, on our right, under the command of Capt. Drum, 4th artillery (relieved 
late next day, for some hours, by Lieut. Andrews, of the 3d), and No. 2, commanded by Lieut. 
Hagner, ordnance — both supported by Quitman's division — Nos. 3 and 4, on the opposite, sup- 
ported by Pillow's division, were commanded, the former by Capt. Brooks and Lieut. S. S. 
Anderson, '2d artillery, alternately, and the latter by Lieut. Stone, ordnance. The batteries 
were traced by Capt. Huger, and Capt. Lee, engineer, and constructed by them^ with the able 
assistance of the young officers of those corps and the artillery. 

To prepare for an assault, it was foreseen, that the play of the batteries might run into the 
second day; but recent captures had not only trebled our siege pieces, but also our ammuni- 
tion, and we knew that we should greatly augment both, by carrying the place. I was, 
therefore, in no haste in ordering an assault before the works were well crippled by our mis- 
siles. — The bombardment and cannonade, under the direction of Capt. Huger, were commen- 
ced early in the morning of the 12th. Before nightfall, which necessarily stopped our batte- 
ries, we perceived that a good impression had been made on the castle and its outworks, and 
that a large body of the enemy had remained outside, towards the city, from an early hour, to 
avoid our fire, and to be at hand on its cessation, in order to reinforce the garrison against an 
assault. The same outside force was discovered the next morning, after our batteries had re- 
opened upon the city, by which we again reduced its garrison to the minimum needed for 
the guns. 

Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early in the night of the 11th. AInjor Gen. 
Worth was now ordered to hold his division in reserve, near the foundry, to support Pillow ; 
and Brig. Gen. Smith, of Twiggs' division, had just arrived, witii his brigade, from Picdad 
(two miles), to support Quitman. Twiggs' guns, before the southern gales, again reminded 
us, as they did before, that he, with Riley's brigade, and Taylor's, and Steptoe's batteries, was 
in activity, threatening the southern gates, and there holding a great part of the Mexican army 
on the defensive.— Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an assaulting party of two 
hundred and fifty volunteer officers and men, under Capt. McKenzie. of the 3d artillery ; and 
Twiggs' division supplied a similar one, commanded by Capt. Casey, 2d infantry, to Quitman. 
Each of those little columns was furnished with scaling ladders. — The signal I had appointed 
for the attack, was the momentary cessation of the fire of our heavy batteries. About eight 
o'clock in the morning of the 13lh, judging that the time had arrived, by the effect of the mis- 
siles we had thrown, I sent an aid-de-camp to Pillow, and another to Quitman, with notice that 
the concerted signal was about to be given. Both columns now advanced with an alacrity 
that gave assurance of prompt success. The batteries, seizing opportunities, threw shot and 
shells upon the enemy, over the heads of our men, with good effect, particularly at every 
attempt to reinforce the works from without, to meet our assault. Maj. Gen. Pillow's approach, 
on the west side, lay through an open grove, filled with sharpshooters, who were speedily dis- 
lodged ; when, being up with the front of the attack, and emerging into an open space, at the 
fool of a rocky acclivity, that gallant leader was struck down by an agonizing wound. The 
immediate command devolved on Brig. Gen. Cadwalader, in the absence of the senior bri^ 
gadier (Pierce) of eame division, an invalid since the events of August 19th. 



BATTLE OF CHAPULTEPEC. 621 

On a previous call of Pillow, Worth had just sent him a reinforcement — Col. Clark's bri- 
gade. The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a strong redoubt, midway, to be 
carried, before reaching the castle on the heights. The advance of our brave men, led by 
brave officers, though necessarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, 
and under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt now yielded to their resist- 
■ less valor, and the shouts that followed, announced to the castle the fate that impended. The 
enemy were steadily driven from shelter to shelter. The retreat allowed not time to fire a 
single mine, without the certainty of blowing up friend and ibe. Those, who, ot a distance, 
attempted to apply matches to the long trains, were shot down by our men. There was death 
below, as well as above ground. At length the ditch and wall of the main work were reached ; 
the scaling-ladders were brought up and planted by the storming parties; some of the daring 
spirits, first in the assault, were cast down, killed, or wounded ; but a lodgment was soon 
made; streams of heroes followed; all opposition was overcome, and several of our regi- 
mental colors flung out from the upper walls, amid long-continued shouts and cheers, which 
sent dismay into the capital. No scene could have been more animating or glorious. 

Maj. Gen. Quitman, nobly supported by brigadier generals Shields and Smith (P. F.), his 
other othcers and men, was up with the part assigned him. Simultaneously with tlie move- 
ment on tlie west, he had gallantly approached the south-east of the same works over a 
causeway, with cuts and batteries, and defended by an army strongly posted outside, to the 
east of the works. These formidable obstacles Quitman had to face, with but little shelter 
for his troops, or space for manoeuvering. Deep ditches, flanking the causeway made it diffi- 
cult to cross, on either side, into the adjoining meadows, and these again were intersected by 
other ditches. Smith and liis brigade had been early thrown out to make a sweep to the right, 
in order to present a front against the enemy's line (outside), and to turn the two intervening 
batteries, near the foot of Chapultepec. This movement was also intended to support Quit- 
man's storming parties, both on the causeway. The first of these, furnished by Twiggs' divis- 
ion, was commanded in succession, by Capt. Casey, 2d inf , and Capt. Paul, 7th inf , after Casey 
had been severely wounded; and the second, originally under the gallant Major Twiggs, 
marine corps, killed, and then Capt. Miller, 2d Pennsylvania volunteer.?. The storming party, 
now commanded by Capt. Paul, seconded by Capt. Roberts, of the rifles, Lieut. Stewart, and 
others of the same regiment, Smith's brigade, carried tlie two batteries in the road, took some 
guns, with many prisoners, and drove the enemy posted behind in support. The New York 
and South Carolina volunteers (Shields' brigade), and the 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, all on 
the left of Quitman's line, together with portions of his storming parties, crossed the mead- 
ows in front, under a heavy fire, and entered the outer enclosure of Cliapultepec, just in time 
to join in the final assault from the west. 

Besides Major Generals Pillow and Quitman, Brigadier Generals Shields, Smith and Cad- 
walader, the following are the oflicers and corps most distinguished in those brilliant opera- 
tions : — The voltiguer regiment, in two detachments, commanded, respectively, by Col. An- 
drews and Lieut. Col. Johnstone — the latter mostly in the lead, accompanied by Major Cald- 
well ; Capts. Barnard and Biddle, of the same regiment — the former the first to plant a regi- 
mental color, and the latter among the first in the assault ; the storming party of Worth's 
division, under Capt. McKenzie, 2d artillery, with Lieut. Seldon, Slh infantry, early on the 
ladder and badly wounded ; Lieut. Armistead, Oth infantry, the first to leap into the ditch to 
plant a ladder; Lieuts. Rogers of the 4th, and J. P. Smith of the 5th infantry, both mortally 
wounded; the 9lh infantry, under Col. Ransom, who was killed while gallantly leading that 
gallant regiment; the 15lh infantry, under Lieut. Col. Howard and Maj. Woods, with Capt. 
Chase, whose company gallantly carried the redoubt, midway up the acclivity ; Col Clarke's 
brigade, (Worth's division), consisting of the 5th, 8th, and part of the Oth regiments of infantry- 
commanded, respectively, by Capt. Chapman, Major Montgomery and Lieut Edward .John- 
son, the latter specially noticed, with Lieuts. Longstreet. (badly wounded — advancing — co!oi» 
in hand), Pickett and Merchant, the last three of the 8th infantry : portions of the U. S. mii 
rines, New York, South Carolina, and 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, which delayed with then 
division (Quitman's) by the hot engagement below, arrived just in time to participate in the 
assault of the heights — particularly a detachment, under Lieut. Ried, New York volunteer.", 
consisting of a company of tlie same, with one of marines ; and another detachment, a por 
tion of the storming parly. (Twiggs' division, serving with Quitman), under Lieut. Steele, 2d 
infantry — after the full of Lieut. Grant, 7th infantry. 

In this connexion, it is but just to recall the decisive eflect of the heavy batteries, Nos. 1, 2 
3 and 4, commanded by those excellent officers, Capt. Drum, 4th artillery, assisted by Lieuts. 



622 APPENDIX. 

Benjamin and Porter of his own company; Capt. Brooks and Lieut. Anderson, 2d artillery, 
assisted Ijy Lieut. Russell, 4th infantry, a volunteer; Lieuts. Hagner and Stone, of the ord- 
nance, and Lieut. Andrews, 3d artillery — the whole superintended by Capt. Huger, chief 
of ordnance — an officer distinguished by every kind of merit. The mountain how- 
itzer battery, under Lieut. Reno, of the ordnance, deserves, also, to be particularly men- 
tioned. Attached to the volliguers, it followed the movements of that regiment, and again 
won applause. 

In adding to the list of individuals of conspicuous merit, I must limit myself to a few of the 
many names which might be enumerated: — Capt. Hooker, assistant adjutant general, who 
won special applause successively in the staff of Pillow and Cadwalader; Lieut. Lovell, 
4th artillery, (wounded), chief of Quitman's staff; Capt. Page, assistant adjutant general, 
(wounded), and Lieut. Hammond, 3d artillery, both of Shields' staff; and Lieut. Van Dorn, 
7th infantry, aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. Smith. 

These operations all occurred on the west, south-east, and heights of Cliapultepec. To the 
north, and at tlie base of the mound, inaccessible on that side, the 11th infantry, under Lieut. 
Col. Herbert, the 4th, under Col. Trousdale, and Capt. Magruder'.s field battery, 1st artillery — 
one section advanced under Lieut. Jackson — all of Pillow's division — had, at the same time, 
some spirited affairs against superior numbers, driving the enemy from a battery in the road, 
and capturing a gun. In these the officers and corps named gained merited praise. Col. 
Trousdale, the commander, though twice wounded, continued on duty till the heights were 
carried. 

Early in the morning of the 13th, I repeated the orders of the night before to Maj. Gen. 
Worth, to be with his division at hand, to support the movement of Maj. Gen, Pillow from our 
left. The latter seems soon to have called for that entire division, standing momentarily in 
reserve, and Worth sent him Col. Clarke's brigade. The call, if not unnecessary, was, at 
least, under the circumstances, unknown to me at the time ; for, soon observing the very large 
body of the enemy in the road in front of Maj. Gen. Quitman's right, was reinforcements from 
the city — less than a mile and a half to the east — I sent instructions to Worth, on our opposite 
flank, to turn Chapultepec with his division, and to proceed, cautiously, by the road at its 
northern base, in order, if not met by very superior numbers, to threaten or to attack in rear, 
that body of the enemy. The movement, it was also believed, could not fail to distract and 
to intimidate the enemy generally. 

Worth promptly advanced with his remaining brigade — Col. Garland's — Lieut. Col. C. F. 
Smith's light battalion, Lieut. Col. Duncan's field battery— all of his division— and three 
squadrons of dragoons, under Major Sumner, which I had just ordered up to join in the move- 
ment. 

Having turned the fortress on the west, and arriving opposite to the north centre of Chapul- 
tepec;, Worth came up with the troops in the road, under Col. Trousdale, and aided by a flank 
movement of a part of Garland's brigade in taking the one-gun breastwork, then under the 
fire of Lieut. Jackson's section of Capt. Magruder's field battery. Continuing to advance, this 
division passed Chapultepec, attacking the right of the enemy's line, resting on that road, 
about the moment of the general retreat consequent upon the capture of the formidable castle 
and its outworks. Arriving some minutes later, and mounting to the top of the castle, the 
whole field, to the east, lay plainly under my view. 

There are two routes, from Chapultepec to the capital— the one on the right entering the 
same gale, Belen, with the road from the south, via Piedad ; and the other obliquing to the left, 
to intersect the great western, or San Cosme road, in a suburb outside of the gate of San 
Cosme. Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents a double roadway on the sides 
of an aqueduct of strong masonry, and great height, resting on open arches and massive pil- 
lars, which, together, afford fine points both for attack and defence. The sideways of both 
aqueducts, are, moreover, defended by many strong breastworks at the gates, and before 
reaching them. As we had expected, we found the four tracks unusually dry and solid for 
the season. 

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the retreating enemy— the former by the San 
Cosme aqueduct, and the latter aloiig that of Belen. Each had now advanced some hundred 
yards. Deeming it all-important to profit by our successes, and the consequent dismay of the 
enemy, which could not be otherwise than general. I hastened to dispatch from Chapultepec, 
first Clarke's brigade, and then Cadwalader's, to the support of Worth, and gave orders thai 
the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's brigade was, at the same time, sent to 
Quitman, and, in the course of the afternoon, I caused some additional siege pieces to be ad- 



AMERICAN ARMY IN THE CITY OF MEXICO. G23 

ded to his tram. Then, after desig^nating the 15th infantry, under Lieut. Col. Howard — Mor- 
gan, the colonel, had been disabled by a wound at Churubusco — as the garrison of Chapulte- 
pec. and giving directions for the care of the prisoners of war, the captured ordnance and 
ordnance stores, I proceeded to join the advance of Worth, within the suburb, and beyond 
the turn at the junction of the aqueduct with the great highway from the west to the gates of 
San Cosme. 

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of those formidable systems of city defences, 
spoken of above, and it had not a gun ; — a strong proof— 1. That the enemy had expected us 
to fail in the attack upon Chapultepec, even if we meant anything more than a feint ; 2. That 
m either case, we designed, in his belief, to return and double our forces against the southern 
gates — a delusion kept up by the active demonstrations of Twiggs and the forces posted on 
that side ; and, 3. That advancing rapidly from the reduction of Chapultepec, the enemy had 
not time to shift guns — our previous captures had left him, comparatively, but few — from the 
southern gates. 

Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops engaged in a street fight against the 
enemy posted in gardens, at windows, and on house-tops — all fiat — with parapets. Worth or- 
dered forward the mountain howitzers of Cadwalader's brigade, preceded by skirmishers and 
pioneers, with pick-axes and crow bars, to force windows and doors, or to burrow through 
walls. The assailants were soon in an equality of position fatal to the enemy. By eight o'clock 
in the evening, Worth had carried two batteries in this suburb. According to my instruc- 
tions, he here posted guards and sentinels, and placed his troops under shelter for night. — 
There was but one more obstacle ; the San Cosme gate (custom-liouse) between him and the 
great square in front of the cathedral and palace — the heart of the city ; and that barrier, it 
was known, could not by daylight, resist our siege guns thirty minutes. 

I had gone back to the foot of Chapultepec, the point from which the two aqueducts begin 
to diverge, some hours earlier, in order to be near that new depot, and in easy communication 
with Quitman and Twiggs, as well as with Worth. From this point, I ordered all detach- 
ments and stragglers to their respective corps, then in advance ; sent to Quitman additional 
siege guns, ammunition, entrenching tools ; directed Twiggs' remaining brigade (Riley's) i"rom 
Piedad, to support Worth, and Capt. Steptoe's field battery, also at Piedad, to rejoin Quitman's 
division. 

I had been, from the first, well aware that the western, or San Cosme, was the less difficult 
route to the centre and conquest of the capital ; and, therefore, intended that Quitman should 
mancEuvre and threaten the Belen or southwestern gate, in order to favor the main attack by 
Worth — knowing that the strong defences at the Belen were directly under the gims of the 
much stronger fortress called the c/tec/cZ, just within. Both of these defences of the enemy 
were also within easy supporting distance from the San Angel (or Nino Perdido) and Sau 
Antonio gates. Hence the greater support, in numbers, given to Worth's movement at the 
viain attack. 

Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day, communicated to Maj. Gen. Quitman; 
but, being in hot pursuit — gallant himself, and ably supported by Brig. Generals Shields and 
Smith — Shields badly wounded before Chapultepec, and refusing to retire — as well as by all the 
officers and men of the column — Quitman continued to press forward, under flank and direct 
fires — carried an immediate battery of two guns, and then the gate, before two o'clock in the 
afternoon, but not without proportionate loss, increased by his steady maintenance of that 
position. 

Here, of the heavy battery, 4th artillery, Capt. Drum and Ijieut. Benjamin were mortally 
■wounded, and Lieut. Porter, its third in rank, slightly. The loss of those two most distin- 
guished officers the army will long mourn. Lieutenants J. B Moragne and Wm. Canty, ot 
the South Carolina volunteers, also officers of high merit, fell on the occasion — besides mauy 
of our bravest non-commissioned officers and men — particularly in Capt. Drum's veteran 
company. I cannot, in this place, give names or numbers; but lull returns of the killed and 
wounded of all corps, in their recent operations, will accompany this report. 

Quitman, within the city — adding several new defences to the position he liad won, and 
sheltering his corns as well as practicable — now awaited the return of daylight, under the 
guns of the formidable citadel, yet to be subdued. 

At about four o'clock next morning {Sept. 14th), a deputation of the ayiintnmiento (city 
council), waited upon me to report that the federal government and the army of Mexico had 
fled from the capital some three hours before, and to demand terms of capioilation in favor 
of the church, the citizens, and the municipal authorities. I promptly replied that I would 



624 APPENDIX. 

sign no capitulation ; that the city had been virtually in our possession since the lodgments 
effected, by Worth and Quitman, the day before ; that I regretted the silent escape of the Mex- 
ican army ; that I should levy on the city a moderate contribution for special purposes ; and 
that the Mexican army should come under no terms, not self-imposed — such only, as its own 
honor, the dignity of the United Slates, and the spirit of the age, should, in my opinion impe- 
riously demand and impose. 

At the termination of the interview with the city deputation, I communicated, about day- 
light, orders to Worth and Quitman, to advance slowly and cautiously (to guard against 
treachery), towards the heart of the city, and to occupy its stronger and more commanding 
points. Quitman proceeded to the great plaza, or square, planted guards, and hoi-sted the 
colors of the United States on the national palace — containing the halls of Congress, and the 
executive apartments of federal Mexico. In this grateful service, Quitman might have been 
anticipated by Worth, but for my express orders, halting the latter at the head of the Alameda 
(a green park), within three squares of that goal of general ambition. The capital, however, 
was not taken by any one or two corps, but by the talent, the science, the gallantry, the prow- 
ess of this entire army. In the glorious conquest, all had contribu: d — early and powerfully 
— the killed, the wounded, and the fit for duty — at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, San 
Antonio, Churubusco (three battles), the Mcilino del Rey, and Chapullepec — as much as 
those who fought at the gates of Belen and San Cosme. 

Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of occupying the city, a fire was opened 
upon us, from the flat roofs of the houses, from windows, and corners of streets, by some two 
thousand convicts, liberated the night before by the flying government — joined by, perhaps, 
as many Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded themselves, and thrown off their uniforms. — 
This unlawful war lasted more than twenty-four hours, in spite of the exertions of the muni- 
cipal authorities, and was not put down till we had lost many men, including several oiFicers, 
killed or wounded, and had punished the miscreants. * * * » . * * 

Leaving, as we all feared, inadequate garrisons at Vera Cruz, Perote, and Puebla — with 
much larger hospitals ; and being obliged, most reluctantly, from the same cause (genera! pau- 
city of numbers), to abandon Jalapa, we marched (Aug. 7-10), from Puebla, with only 10,7:J3 
rank and file. This number includes the garrison of Jalapa, and the 2,429 brought up by 
Brig. Gen Pierce, August Cth. 

At Contreras, Churubusco, &c., August 20th, we ha.d but 8,497 men engaged — after deduct- 
ing the garrison of San Augustin (our general depot), the intermediate sick, and the dead ; at 
the Molino del Rey, Sept. 8th, but three brigades, with some cavalry and artillery — making 
in all 3,2.51 men — were in the b.ittle; in the two days — Sept. 12th and 13th— our whole opera- 
ting force, after deducting again, the recent killed, wounded, and sick, together with the gar- 
rison at Miscoac — the then general depot — and that of Tacubaya, was but7,lS0; and, finally, 
after deducting the new garrison of Chapultepec, with the killed and wounded of the two 
days, we took possession, Sept. 14lh, of this great capital, with less than 0.000 men 1 And I 
re-assert, upon accumulated and unquestionable evidence, that, in not one of these conflicts, 
was this army opposed by fewer than three and a half times its numbers — in sever.il of them, 
by a yet greater excess. — I recapitulate our losses, since we arrived in the basin of Mexico : 

Augu.st 19th, 20th — Killed, 137, including 14 officers. Wou7ided, 877. including G2 ollieers. — 
MUsing (probably killed), 38 rank and file. Total, 1,002. 

' September 8th — Killed, 116, including 9 oflicers. Wounded, G55, including 49 officers. Mis- 
sing, 18 rank and file. Total, 789. 

September l-2th, 13th, liih— Killed, 1.30, including 10 officers. Wounded, 703, inoliuling 68 
officers. Mi3si/)g, 29, rank and file. Total, S02. Grand total of losses, 2,703, including 3Ki 
officers. 

On the other hand, this small force has beaten, on the same occasion, in view of their capi- 
tal, the whole Mexican army, of (at the beginning) thirty odd thousand men. Killed or woun- 
ded, of that number more than 7000, oflicers and men, taken 3,730 prisoners, one-seventh offi- 
cers, including 13 generals, of whom three had been presidents of this republic, c.iptured 20 
colors and standards, 75 pieces of ordnance, besides 57 wall pieces, 20.000 small arras, and an 
immense quantity of shot, shells, powder, &c., &c. ***»#» 

1 have the honor to be, sir, with liigh respect, your most obedient servant, 

WINFIKLD SCOTT, 
lion. Wm. h. Marcy, Secretary of War. 



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